Tag: Matt Patricia

Ohio State Buckeyes co-offensive coordinator Brian Hartline watches warm ups prior to the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.

Ohio State makes coordinators Matt Patricia, Brian Hartline official

Posted on | by Field Level Media

National champion Ohio State made the appointments of defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline official on Thursday.

Coach Ryan Day announced them as replacements for Jim Knowles, who Penn State made the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the nation, and for OC Chip Kelly.

Kelly is now filling that role on the staff of new head coach Pete Carroll with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Patricia, 50, won three Super Bowls on the staff of the New England Patriots, where he spent 16 seasons. He also was the head coach of the Detroit Lions (2018-20).

“I have been aware of and followed Matt’s successful NFL career for the past 15 years, or when he first started calling plays for those outstanding New England teams,” Day said in announcing the hire. “I have also gotten to know him and, aside from his creative and outstanding abilities as a defensive coach, I think Matt is going to integrate into our program’s culture and values, which are the essence of who we are, very well.”

Hartline, 38, a former Ohio State and NFL wide receiver, was promoted to offensive coordinator but will continue in his role coaching wide receivers. Under his watch, the Buckeyes have had four first-round NFL draft picks in the past three years – Chris Olave (2022), Garrett Wilson (2022), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2023) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (2024).

“Brian did some of his best coaching this past season,” Day said. “His loyalty and patience are going to pay off, and I think he’s going to be the best coordinator in the country.”

Ohio State also announced the hiring of Tyler Bowen, 35, as offensive line coach and run-game coordinator. He most recently served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Virginia Tech.

In other staff moves, Tim Walton, 53, was promoted to co-defensive coordinator, secondary and cornerbacks coach and Keenan Bailey to co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach.

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots senior football advisor Matt Patricia watches a play against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Report: Ohio State to tap Matt Patricia as defensive coordinator

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Ohio State is turning to former Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia to be its next defensive coordinator, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

Patricia would replace Jim Knowles, who helped the Buckeyes to the national title this past season. Knowles, a Pennsylvania native, left Ohio State to assume the same position at Penn State and become the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the nation.

The Buckeyes rode the No. 1 defense in the country to four victories in the College Football Playoff, including a 34-23 win over Notre Dame in the title game. Ohio State gave up 251.1 yards per game, more than five yards better than the next best team, Indiana.

The Buckeyes finished 14-2 and also led the nation with 12.2 points per game, more than two points better than Notre Dame.

Patricia, 50, had a 13-29-1 record during parts of three seasons (2018-20) with the Lions. He also served as a defensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023.

Patricia was the defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots from 2012-2017 but joined Bill Belichick’s coaching staff in 2005, making him part of two Super Bowl-winning teams.

–Field Level Media

Aug 12, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Philadelphia Eagles assistant coach Matt Patricia stands with general manager Howie Roseman before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Matt Patricia to call defensive plays for Eagles

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Philadelphia Eagles have made an adjustment in their defensive coaching ranks ahead of Monday night’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.

NFL Network reported Sunday that former Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia, a coaching consultant for the Eagles, will be on the sideline calling the plays Monday. Defensive coordinator Sean Desai will move upstairs to the booth.

The move comes as the Eagles (10-3) have lost two games in a row. They gave up 42 points to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13 and 33 to the Dallas Cowboys last week.

In Week 12, Philadelphia defeated the Buffalo Bills 37-34 in overtime, which marked only the second time in franchise history that the Eagles gave up at least 33 points in three straight weeks, per NFL.com. The only other stretch came in 1967.

Patricia was the defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots from 2012-2017 but joined Bill Belichick’s coaching staff in 2005, making him part of two Super Bowl-winning teams.

The Eagles reached Super Bowl LVII in February, losing 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs, with improved defense key in order to make a return trip.

Philadelphia’s defense ranks 23rd in the league, giving up an average of 353.9 yards per game. The Eagles are 28th in the league in points allowed at 24.7 per game.

–Field Level Media

Dec 12, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots offensive line coach Matt Patricia against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Eagles may add Matt Patricia to coaching staff

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Philadelphia Eagles might add Matt Patricia to their defensive coaching staff, the Boston Herald reported Sunday.

The longtime New England Patriots assistant and former Detroit Lions head coach “has a shot” to land with the Eagles “presumably as a linebackers coach,” the report said.

Patricia, 48, won three Super Bowls as a member of New England coach Bill Belichick’s staff from 2004-17, the last six of those seasons as defensive coordinator. He was the linebackers coach there from 2006-10.

After compiling a 13-29-1 record with the Lions from 2018-20, he returned to the Patriots in 2021 as a senior football adviser. He also coached New England’s offensive line last season.

The reigning NFC champion Eagles hired Sean Desai as defensive coordinator last week to replace Jonathan Gannon, now the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

–Field Level Media

Dec 12, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots offensive line coach Matt Patricia against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Broncos interview Matt Patricia for DC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Denver Broncos interviewed Matt Patricia on Wednesday for their defensive coordinator opening, NFL Network reported.

He joins a list of top candidates that includes Rex Ryan and Vance Joseph.

New head coach Sean Payton is interviewing to replace Ejiro Evero, who left to become the DC in Carolina.

Patricia, 48, was the longtime DC for the New England Patriots (2012-17) before getting the head coaching job in Detroit, where he went 13-29-1. He was fired by the Lions after Week 12 of the 2020 season.

Patricia spent the 2022 season back with the Patriots as the de-facto offensive coordinator with Joe Judge. Patricia held the title of senior football adviser/offensive line.

The Patriots brought back Bill O’Brien to be OC moving forward.

It’s unclear if Patricia has a spot on the Patriots’ staff for 2023. His contract – still being paid by the Detroit Lions – expired at the end of last season. Patricia wasn’t part of the Patriots’ contingent of coaches at the Shrine Bowl.

–Field Level Media

Nov 22, 2020; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia walks to the locker room after the loss to the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Lions fire coach Patricia, GM Quinn

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Detroit Lions dismissed head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn on Saturday.

Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell will take over as interim head coach.

Patricia, in his third season, was 13-29-1 during his tenure in Detroit. Quinn hired Patricia, the former defensive coordinator for Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots, after firing coach Jim Caldwell following the 2017 season.

In four seasons under Caldwell, the Lions were 36-28 and made the playoffs twice.

The Lions are 4-7 and in last place in the NFC North following an uninspiring performance on Thanksgiving Day in a 41-25 loss to the Houston Texans.

Quinn took over in Detroit in January 2016 after being part of a front office that won four Super Bowls in New England. He was charged with elevating the Lions, a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since the 1991 season, and brought in Patricia, saying the GM-coach pairing was “the most important relationship in this building.”

Owner Sheila Ford Hamp, who took over from her mother, Martha Ford, earlier this year, said she had high expectations for the Lions — despite the challenges of a season impacted by COVID-19.

“The overarching thing is that we want to see major improvement and at this point I can’t really say what the specific measures are going to be because I don’t know what the season is going to be like yet,” Hamp said in June. “But believe me, major improvement is the goal.”

The Lions have lost four of their past five games and have surrendered the second-most points in the NFL, despite Patricia being a defensive-minded coach. They lost the final nine games of the 2019 season.

–Field Level Media

Dec 22, 2019; Denver, Colorado, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia during the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Lions’ Patricia gives up defensive play calling

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia is turning over the play calling on defense to first-year defensive coordinator Cory Undlin.

Patricia called the bulk of the plays last season when Paul Pasqualoni served as defensive coordinator. But with Undlin in charge of the plays, Patricia told reporters Monday that he’ll have more opportunity to help the Lions make in-game adjustments on offense and on special teams.

“Just in general, philosophy for me as a head coach is to manage the game, and make sure that I’m there for all three phases when questions come up and certainly (when) we’re talking through scenarios, situational football as it comes up through the course of the game, penalties, things like that, and then obviously input,” Patricia said.

“It’s free rein where I get to help and sometimes I see the game a little bit differently from my lens as the head coach as opposed to when you’re a coordinator and you’re dialed in to that call, that play, the next call or the next situation. Sometimes bigger picture stuff I can help with.”

Patricia’s record in his first two seasons leading the Lions is 9-22-1. He was the defensive coordinator for Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots for six seasons prior to moving on to Detroit and was with the Patriots from 2004-17.

Last season, the Lions’ defense was last in passing defense (284.4 yards per game) and 21st in rushing defense (115.9 yards). The Lions could have as many as six new starters on defense in 2020.

“Cory has been grinding away,” Patricia said. “He’s our defensive coordinator. He’s been working to understand everything that we’re doing defensively and obviously has his input.

“Cory and I have known each other a long time. Certainly without the spring it was obviously going to be interesting to see how training camp went and the operation and all that. He’s ready to go; he’s ready to call it and do what he’s got to do. He’s the defensive coordinator.”

Undlin will be calling the plays from the field instead of the booth. For the past five seasons, he was the defensive backs coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Lions are scheduled to open the season against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 13 in Detroit.

–Field Level Media