The Ohio State Buckeyes College Football Playoff hopes were dashed after losing to the Michigan Wolverines in the final game of the regular season, and heading into 2024, they've hired a new offensive coordinator to help write the ship in former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien.
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The Athletic confirmed the news of O'Brien to Ohio State via X.
Ohio State is hiring Bill O'Brien to be the Buckeyes' offensive coordinator, @cj_teague has confirmed. pic.twitter.com/s9zda9IPt7
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 19, 2024
With the hire of O'Brien, it appears Ryan Day's time as a play caller is coming to an end, The Athletic noted.
The time for Ryan Day as a play caller has come to an end.
Bill O'Brien most recently served as the offensive coordinator of the Patriots and also spent two years as Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator at Alabama.
Full story ⤵️https://t.co/6M9OH90c2L
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) January 19, 2024
O'Brien has had a lengthy coaching career, with stops at Brown, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Duke, Penn State, and Alabama in the college ranks. In the NFL, he spent time with the Patriots and Houston Texans. He was Penn State's head coach from 2012-2013 before becoming the Texans head coach from 2014 until 2020.
After his time with the Texans, O'Brien was the offensive coordinator for the Crimson Tide before returning to the NFL in the same role with the Patriots. Since joining the Patriots, Bill Belichick parted ways with the team, and Jerod Mayo took over as head coach.
In college as a head coach, O'Brian went 15-9 while going 54-52 at the NFL level.
Fans on X strongly voiced their opinions of the hire.
It’s time to bring in a young modern OC who can run a modern offense and can create great schemes for the QBs, receivers, TEs and RBs.
— FootballHockey1962 (@FTtocs9914) January 19, 2024
"It's time to bring in a young modern OC who can run a modern offense and can create great schemes for the QBs, receivers, TEs and RBs," one user said.
Bye Bill can't say it was great.
— DLH (@1111DLH61) January 19, 2024
"Bye Bill can't say it was great," one user said.
OSU twisting itself into unrecognizable shapes in the effort to continue the NFL Jr. strategy that's worked so well (for individual players, not the team).
— Mashu, the Great Cedar Mountain (@ProducerKeeper0) January 19, 2024
"OSU twisting itself into unrecognizable shapes in the effort to continue the NFL Jr. strategy that's worked so well (for individual players, not the team)," someone else said.
That is the worst decision day can ever make. This guy was horrible with the New England Patriots. Let me tell you what the patriots record was with him as offensive coordinator 4-13 fire Day!
— steve phillips (@stevephillips34) January 19, 2024
"That is the worst decision day can ever make. This guy was horrible with the New England Patriots. Let me tell you what the patriots record was with him as offensive coordinator 4-13 fire Day!" one X user said.
Other fans were more supportive of the move.
I remember watching the Hard Knocks season w/ O'Brien & what stood out for me was was his character. Just a good person, committed to his players & family. There was an episode that highlighted his family & his disabled son & it was very touching. So A+ for me in character
— Sarah315 (@Sarah315er) January 19, 2024
"I remember watching the Hard Knocks season w/ O'Brien & what stood out for me was was his character. Just a good person, committed to his players & family. There was an episode that highlighted his family & his disabled son & it was very touching. So A+ for me in character," someone said about O'Brien.
O'Brien recently made headlines as Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe spoke about O'Brien not believing in his ability as a quarterback.
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe says his former OC and current Patriots OC Bill O'Brien told him he should not be a quarterback.
"How would you feel if I told you that you sucked?"
"Look where I'm at right now. So who gets the last laugh?"pic.twitter.com/xurEAr61ge
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 28, 2023
The Patriots offense in 2023 ranked 31st in points scored (13.9), 26th in rushing yards (95.7), and 28th in passing yards (180.5) per game.
