NFL: New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills
Rich Barnes / USA TODAY Sports

The New England Patriots season came to a close during Super Wild Card Weekend and now the focus shifts from winning games towards building yet another playoff contender throughout the offseason. While Bill Belichick looks to retool his roster, he may also need to look to fill various positions on his coaching staff and front offense. A number of Patriots personnel members have been identified as hot names to monitor during this hiring cycle, ranging from head coaching and GM positions. Already, we've seen some pivotal figures leave the organization, including Josh McDaniels, who has since agreed to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Below, you'll find a running tracker that has chronicled every news nugget leading up to various hires and/or buzz that Patriots personnel members are making throughout the league. 

Raiders to hire McDaniels as next head coach

Jan. 30 -- It's the end of an era in New England as Josh McDaniels is moving on from being the Patriots offensive coordinator and has accepted the head coaching job with the Las Vegas Raiders. McDaniels had been interviewing for the job over the weekend and both sides appeared to be very serious about a possible partnership. Once Patriots director of player personnel Dave Ziegler was named the club's new GM earlier on Sunday, that felt like just the first domino to fall with McDaniels news coming down not too long after. 

McDaniels spent 18 years with the Patriots organization over the course of two different tenures. The most recent stretched back to 2012 when he rejoined the team as the offensive coordinator. McDaniels would be the OC for New England's previous three Super Bowl titles. 

Raiders to hire Ziegler as GM 

Jan. 30 -- According to the NFL Network, the Las Vegas Raiders are expected to hire former Patriots director of player personnel Dave Ziegler to be its next general manager. The 44-year-old has spent the last nine seasons with New England and helped build rosters that went on to win three Super Bowl titles. Of course, the hiring of Ziegler comes as Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has also garnered tremendous interest by the Raiders as he interviewed for their open head coaching position this weekend. 

Bill O'Brien target for Pats if McDaniels leaves

Jan. 27 -- In the aftermath of the news coming down that the Raiders are officially set to interview Josh McDaniels for their opening head coaching job, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that a potential replacement at offensive coordinator for New England could be Bill O'Brien. O'Brien, of course, was with the Patriots from 2007-2011 and served as the offensive coordinator in his final season before leaving for Penn State. Recently, O'Brien has been the offensive coordinator at Alabama under Nick Saban. 

Raiders request to interview Josh McDaniels

Jan. 27 -- CBS Sports NFL insider Jason La Canfora confirms that the Las Vegas Raiders will interview Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels for their current head coaching position. This is McDaniels' first official interview during this hiring cycle and La Canfora notes that Las Vegas has been looking at personnel guys with New England ties. That lends true when considering that the Raiders have also been interested in Jerod Mayo for the job along with director of player personnel Dave Ziegler for their GM opening. McDaniels and Ziegler could be an interesting combination if the Raiders want to fully dive in with a coach-GM combo with Patriots ties. 

Bears hires Ryan Poles to be GM

Jan. 25 -- The Chicago Bears have officially hired former Chiefs executive director of player personnel Ryan Poles to be their next GM. Naturally, that eliminates a destination for Patriots scouting consultant Eliot Wolf, who was looked at as a finalist for the job.  

Second interview expected between Wolf, Bears

Jan. 24 -- According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Patriots scouting consultant Eliot Wolf is among at least two other candidates who are expect to be brought in for a second interview for the current open GM position with the Chicago Bears. Along with Wolf, Chicago is expected to talk to Ryan Poles of the Chiefs, Monti Ossenfort of the Titans, and possibly even Morocco Brown with the Colts. 

Mayo to interview for Raiders job

Jan. 24 -- Jerod Mayo is flying to Las Vegas on Monday to interview for the head coaching job with the Raiders on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Mayo was the first request the Raiders put in as they began their search for a head coach, so it would appear like he is held in high regard. Las Vegas also interviewed Patriots director of player personnel Dave Ziegler for their GM opening this weekend, so if they decide to hire Ziegler, Mayo could be a logical pairing. 

Mayo not among finalists for Broncos job

Jan. 24 -- Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported on Monday that the Denver Broncos have narrowed down their head coaching search. Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell and Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett are reportedly the three finalists for the job. That seems to suggest that Mayo -- who interviewed with the Broncos -- will not be heading to Denver. 

Texans aiming for Pats ties with coaching vacancy

Jan. 21 -- CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones reports that league sources feel the opening head coaching job with the Houston Texans will ultimately go to someone with ties to the Patriots organization to work with GM Nick Caserio. This has been a long speculation approach for the Texans as they not only have Caserio -- who worked in New England from 2001-2020 -- slotted in as the GM, but executive vice president of football operations, Jack Easterby, also spent a sizable chunk of his career with the Patriots. One name that has already been reported that fits that bill is current Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo. Brian Flores -- who was fired from the Dolphins a few weeks ago -- may also fit that criteria of having New England ties this cycle.

McDaniels a name to watch with Raiders

Jan. 20 -- Josh McDaniels' name hasn't been floated out much during this latest hiring cycle, but he could still garner some late interest. CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones notes that McDaniels' name keeps getting floated out for the opening head coaching position with the Las Vegas Raiders. While it may take certain pieces to fall perfectly into place to pry McDaniels out of Foxborough, Jones highlights that folks should keep an eye on Vegas. 

Wolf interviews for Vikings GM job

Jan 20. -- The Minnesota Vikings announced on Thursday that they have completed their interview with Patriots Senior Consultant Eliot Wolf for their open GM job. Wolf has been with New England for the past two seasons working in the front office. Prior to that, he was the assistant GM for the Cleveland Browns in 2018 and 2019, and worked in the Packers front office from 2004-2017. 

Mayo interviews for Broncos job

Jan. 19 -- The Denver Broncos announced that they officially conducted their head coaching interview with Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo on Wednesday. Mayo is considered to be one of the more popular coaching candidates this cycle as his stock has continued to rise over the last few years. Denver fired former head coach Vic Fangio after three seasons. 

Raiders request two members of the Patriots

Jan. 17 -- Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports that the Las Vegas Raiders have put in a request to interview Jerod Mayo for their head coach opening. On top of that, Vegas has also requested to interview director of player personnel Dave Ziegler for their GM opening after firing Mike Mayock. Ziegler just finished his ninth season with the Patriots organization and first as the director of player personnel.  

Mayo is a top candidate for the Texans job

Jan 13 -- In the aftermath of the Houston Texans firing coach David Culley, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Jerod Mayo is expected to emerge as a leading candidate for the job. There is a natural connection between the Texans front office and the Patriots as Nick Caserio and Jack Easterby are atop the masthead in Houston and spent several years in New England. 

McDaniels has interest around the NFL

Jan. 13 -- According to Aaron Wilson of SportsTalk 790, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is not expected to pursue head coaching opportunities during New England's playoff run. That said, McDaniels has had significant interest around the league with Wilson naming the likes of the Bears, Vikings, and Giants as possible suitors. 

Bears interested in Eliot Wolf

Jan. 12 -- The Chicago Bears have requested permission to interview Patriots senior consultant Eliot Wolf for their opening GM position after firing Ryan Pace a few weeks ago, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Wolf just finished his second season with the Patriots and has primarily helped in the scouting department, which enjoyed great success last offseason. In 2021, New England had a fantastic draft, bringing in the likes of Mac Jones, Christian Barmore, and Rhamondre Stevenson. That success rate is seemingly catching the eye of the rest of the league. Before joining the Patriots, Wolf was the Browns assistant GM and worked in the Packers from offense from 2004-2017 prior to that job in Cleveland. 

Broncos request permission to interview Mayo

Jan. 10 -- ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Denver Broncos have requested permission to interview Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo for their opening head coaching position. The Broncos did fire former head coach Vic Fangio following the regular season and would be an interesting landing spot for Mayo, who is seeing his stock grow after an impressive interview with the Philadelphia Eagles last offseason. The issue with the Broncos opening, of course, is the questions surrounding the quarterback position.