Matt Patricia returns to Patriots to help coaching staff



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Matt Patricia is returning to New England and will help Bill Belichick and the Patriots coaching staff in a variety of roles, a league source confirmed on Friday.

Patricia spent 14 seasons (2004-17) in several roles on the New England staff, including her last six seasons as a defensive coordinator. He left after the 2017 season to become the head coach of the Lions. Patricia was fired with general manager Bob Quinn in November after compiling a 13-29-1 record.

In addition, Evan Rothstein, who held several positions during a nine-year stint with the Lions, will also join the Patriots, the source said.

Rothstein has been Patricia’s assistant for research and analysis for the past three seasons. He also stepped in as Detroit’s interim defensive coordinator when the coaching staff was cleared by a COVID-19 outbreak in December.

Patricia was a very popular coach among Patriots players and was known for her pre-game routine of hugging everyone during warm-ups.

Dont’a Hightower credited Patricia for her development in the New England defense.

“Matty P. was one of the guys who helped me move forward at an accelerated pace, we’ll say that as far as he works with me and makes me understand defense and what he really wanted me to do as far as me going, ” the linebacker said in January 2017, a month before Patricia left. “I love him, he’s a great coach and an even better man. ”

The return of Belichick’s assistants is not without precedent. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels returned in 2012 after serving as head coach of the Broncos and offensive coordinator of the Rams. Brian Daboll completed a second round of duty in New England, returning as tight ends coach in 2013. He had been an assistant on both sides of the ball before leaving for the Jets with Eric Mangini in 2007.

Patricia has a defensive pedigree, coaching New England linebackers (2006-10) and safeties (2011) before taking over as defensive coordinator. He did, however, work on the offensive side, assisting offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia in 2005.

The Patriots have had no one to hold the official title of defensive coordinator since Patricia left. Brian Flores returned to defensive play calling for a season before taking on the Dolphins’ head coach job. Steve Belichick (outside linebackers) and Jerod Mayo (inside linebackers) have called the games the last two seasons. Belichick and Patricia have remained close, and former Jets coach Adam Gase commented last year that spending time with the two of them at Scouting Combine in recent years has been informative – and entertaining.

“You obtain [Belichick] and Patricia together they have some really great stories, ” Gase said, adding that he had never ‘laughed louder’ than when he was with them.

It is likely that Patricia will advise Belichick and the staff in all phases of football operations, from player evaluation to match planning. There’s a chance he’ll be able to get to work as early as next week when six Senior Bowl practice sessions take place in Mobile, Ala.


Jim McBride can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on twitter @globejimmcbride.



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