Patriots coach Bill Belichick reacts to Josh McDaniels’ firing in Las Vegas

FOXBORO — Early Wednesday morning, the Raiders announced they fired head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler after going 9-16 under their leadership.

McDaniels and Ziegler left the Patriots for Las Vegas in Jan. 2022 and lasted just a season and a half together. The last time McDaniels was fired as a head coach in 2010, he spent one season working outside of New England, then returned for a second stint starting in the 2011 playoffs. He was later promoted back to his old post as offensive coordinator, where he remained for the next 10 years.

So could McDaniels return for a third stint?

Bill Belichick deflected when asked about McDaniels’ firing during his Wednesday morning press conference.

“Yeah, just heard about it this morning,” Belichick said. “Again, just trying to get ready for Washington.”

As for a possible reunion, Belichick reiterated: “Just getting ready for Washington.”

Under new coordinator and quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien, the Patriots offense ranks second-worst in the league at 14.8 points per game. Last season, Belichick replaced McDaniels with the combination of Matt Patricia and Joe Judge. Patricia left after his only year as a play-caller, having overseen the worst Patriots offense of the Belichick era, while Judge was reassigned from quarterbacks coach to assistant head coach with an emphasis on special teams.

The Patriots will kick off against the Commanders at 1 p.m. Sunday from Gillette Stadium.