Robert Kraft Reportedly 'Driving Force' in Keeping Josh McDaniels with Patriots

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was reportedly instrumental in keeping offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on the staff.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated cited "multiple people close to the situation" who called Kraft "the driving force" in preventing McDaniels from leaving for the Indianapolis Colts.

Breer noted "the Patriots were starting to look like the kind of year-to-year operation that Kraft loathed to run" with 65-year-old head coach Bill Belichick and 40-year-old quarterback Tom Brady, so keeping McDaniels was a testament to building future stability.

The Colts said in a February statement McDaniels had agreed to become the head coach but changed his mind to remain in New England.

Benjamin Allbright of 104.7 FM Denver cited a source in February who said McDaniels was assured he would become the next Patriots head coach after Belichick leaves as part of the enticement to keep him in place.

McDaniels is just 41 years old with head coaching experience on his resume from 2009 and 2010 with the Denver Broncos.

He was also the Patriots offensive coordinator from 2006-08 before accepting the Broncos position and was given the role again in New England in 2012. The Patriots have never finished worse than 11th in the league in offensive yards with McDaniels at offensive coordinator and have been first three times.