The Rams are continuing the search for their next head coach over the weekend, reportedly meeting with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Here are a few nuggets to know about the coach quarterback Tom Brady says he would, selfishly, hate to lose.

1) Worked for Patriots majority of his NFL career

McDaniels got his start in the NFL as a personnel assistant for the Patriots in 2001 and worked his way up to being named quarterbacks coach in 2004. Two years later, McDaniels was named offensive coordinator following Charlie Weiss' departure to become the head coach at Notre Dame.

In McDaniels' second season as OC, he helped New England put together one of the most prolific offenses in league history en route to a 16-0 regular season. Brady threw 50 touchdowns — then an NFL single-season record — wide receiver Randy Moss caught 98 passes for 1,493 yards and a record 23 touchdowns, and wide receiver Wes Welker caught 112 passes for 1,175 yards and eight touchdowns.

A year later, Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 and McDaniels' offense nevertheless hummed along with backup QB Matt Cassel, finishing No. 5 overall and No. 8 in points.

2) Former Broncos head coach

With plenty on McDaniels' résumé, the Broncos hired him to be their head coach in 2009, at the age of just 33. While Denver started 6-0 in his tenure, he finished only 8-8 that season and was dismissed after beginning the 2010 season 3-9.

While McDaniels did not have the on-field success he would have liked in that time, he did have a hand in selecting successful players, including wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker.

According to Bleacher Report, McDaniels learned plenty from his short stint as the head man in Denver.

"I don't know that I was as patient as I needed to be in most situations, whether it was game-planning, on the sidelines, preparation for the draft, personnel moves, whatever," McDaniels told BR in September. "There is an element of this game that tests your ability to slow down and make a good decision. I was allowing the way I felt at the moment to make the decision."

Additionally, McDaniels spent the 2011 season with the Rams as the club's offensive coordinator before going back to New England in early 2012.

3) Brady praises him effusively

One of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the game, Brady has given McDaniels plenty of credit for his success over the years. Just this week, Brady said in an interview with WEEI in Boston that he likely spends more time with McDaniels than anyone else in his life, preparing to win.

"I see why there is a lot of interest and there should be because I think he's the best in the NFL," Brady said. "Great coaches get opportunities and he's fortunate to be in a position where he should get them because he's earned it. I would hate to lose him, but I think it's always aspirational for a coach because it's great to lead a team, lead an organization."

"He's been spectacular in every way for me," Brady added. "I could never be the player that I am without him and he challenges me every week. I have so much confidence in him as a coach and his abilities and the way he leads our offense. He's spectacular and it would be tough to lose him."

High praise, indeed, from perhaps the best to ever play.