"Traitor"—that's what they called Josh McDaniels.
The Patriots' officially designated future head coach shocked everyone by agreeing to leave for the Indianapolis Colts to partner with Andrew Luck, igniting chaos in Foxborough.
But soon after, reports surfaced revealing the inside story:
Two years ago, Belichick had told McDaniels he planned to retire and wanted McDaniels to take over as head coach. McDaniels was instructed to be ready for the transition.
Belichick remained the head coach, McDaniels remained the offensive coordinator loyally assisting him.
By this season, McDaniels thought the moment had finally arrived. Instead, Patricia left for the Lions, and Belichick, busy stabilizing the team, showed no signs of retirement. McDaniels fell into despair.
So, when the Colts extended an offer, McDaniels seized the opportunity, finally ready to bet on himself.
After three interviews, tough negotiations, and a drawn-out process—done deal:
The Colts officially announced McDaniels as their new head coach.
For Patriots fans? A betrayal, plain and simple. But from McDaniels' perspective, a career move.
Up to that point, it was just the Patriots' problem—a loss for Belichick and his staff, nobody else's concern. But what happened next stunned the entire league:
After the Colts made it official, Belichick suddenly woke up—like a classic player sweet-talking his ex. He found McDaniels, sat him down, had a heartfelt conversation, and promised:
"Next season, the Patriots are yours."
The future belonged to McDaniels.
McDaniels… hesitated.
His agent, his family, countless league experts all advised him:
Stay calm. Don't fall for it.
Belichick's promises? Worthless. If they were genuine, McDaniels wouldn't have been strung along for years. It was like hearing a drunk say, "Just one more drink"—completely unreliable.
More importantly, McDaniels had already agreed with the Colts, and they had made the announcement. There was no backing out.
Rumor has it, McDaniels was ready to leave, but Belichick made one final visit. Another long, private conversation. Then—
The league exploded in disbelief.
First, McDaniels humiliated the Colts by backing out after their official announcement.
Second, McDaniels looked indecisive and weak. Was this the temperament of a future head coach? It felt less like Belichick grooming an heir, more like Belichick controlling a puppet.
Third, would Patriots ownership even trust McDaniels now?
Yet, despite the controversy, McDaniels stayed.
His long-time agent, furious, immediately terminated their partnership.
In a league where players firing agents happens all the time, this was rare—a public, messy breakup on the agent's end.
All the drama left the Patriots' offseason noisy and chaotic, filled with scars and doubt. Even by spring camp, tensions ran high.
Of note: Belichick never hired a new defensive coordinator—he took on the role himself. Head coach and DC in one. The entire team now carried Belichick's stamp.
Then, the new season began:
Week 2: Lost to the Jaguars.
Week 3: Lost to the Lions under Patricia's leadership.
It wasn't just back-to-back losses.
It was the Patriots' first time since 2002 suffering consecutive double-digit defeats—a sign of serious problems on both offense and defense.
Of course, Patriots fans blamed the Chiefs for everything.
It all traced back to last year's playoff loss.
Belichick and Brady were beyond reproach. McDaniels had technically stayed. Only the Chiefs made for a convenient scapegoat.
So now, both on an individual level (Lance vs. Brady) and a team level (Chiefs vs. Patriots), tensions simmered, fueling a brewing storm.
But wait—were the Patriots really in bad shape?
Never underestimate Belichick and Brady.
Despite back-to-back losses to Jacksonville and Detroit, the Patriots were still undefeated at home this season:
Week 1: Beat the Texans.
Week 4: Beat the Dolphins.
Week 5: Beat the Colts.
After their early struggles, the Patriots leaned on their experience and quickly rebounded. McDaniels, to his credit, proved his offensive chops.
Weeks 4 and 5: The Patriots scored 38 points in both games. The offense was back in rhythm. The team was back on track.
The dynasty? Not dead yet.
As the Patriots prepared to host the Chiefs once again, they aimed to defend their home winning streak and avenge last season's painful losses.
This was shaping up to be a shootout:
Mahomes and Lance vs. McDaniels and Brady.
The sparks flew from the first offensive snap, both teams unleashing their full arsenal. The crowd felt déjà vu—like being transported back to last season's Super Bowl.
It was a track meet—offense after offense, touchdown after touchdown.
24-24, end of the first half.
Deadlocked. Neither team gaining an edge.
The winner? Would be decided in the second half.
For 20 advance chapters: .com/michaeltranslates