Three decades before the New England Patriots requested to interview him for their offensive coordinator vacancy, Keenan McCardell was an overlooked Cleveland Browns wide receiver who thoroughly impressed his head coach with his talent and tenacity.
That coach: Bill Belichick.
McCardell, now the Minnesota Vikings’ wide receivers coach, is a candidate for the Patriots’ OC job, with the team reportedly submitting an interview request Wednesday. The 53-year-old never played for New England or previously coached under Belichick, which would put him in the minority among Patriots assistants.
But the impression he made during his four seasons in Cleveland — 2002-05; the last four Belichick spent there as Browns head coach — clearly resonated with the legendary Patriots bench boss.