Matt Patricia is returning to New England and will assist Bill Belichick and the Patriots’ technical staff in a variety of roles, a league source confirmed on Friday.
Patricia has spent 14 seasons (2004-17) in various roles on the New England team, including her last six seasons as a defensive coordinator. He left after the 2017 season to become the Lions’ head coach. Patricia was fired along with general manager Bob Quinn in November after compiling a 13-29-1 record.
In addition, Evan Rothstein, who worked in various capacities over a nine-year period with Lions, will also join the Patriots, the source said.
Rothstein has served as Patricia’s research and analysis assistant for the past three seasons. He also assumed the role of Detroit’s interim defensive coordinator when the technical team was downsized by an outbreak of COVID-19 in December.
Patricia was a very popular coach among Patriots players and was known for his pre-game routine of hugging everyone during the warm-up.
Dont’a Hightower gave credit to Patricia for her development in the defense of New England.
“Matty P. was one of the guys who helped me move at a fast pace, let’s say that, as he worked with me and made me understand the defense and what he really wanted me to do until I got in,” he said the linebacker in January 2017, a month before Patricia left. “I love him, he is 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 Broncos head coach and Rams offensive coordinator. Brian Daboll made a second service trip in New England, returning as a tight end coach in 2013. He had been an assistant on both sides of the ball before leaving for Jets with Eric Mangini in 2007.
Patricia has a defensive pedigree, training New England linebackers (2006-10) and safeties (2011) before taking over as a defensive coordinator. He worked on the offensive side, however, assisting offensive lineman Dante Scarnecchia in 2005.
The Patriots have had no one with the official title of defensive coordinator since Patricia left. Brian Flores took the defensive game for a season before taking over as head coach of the Dolphins. Steve Belichick (external linebackers) and Jerod Mayo (internal linebackers) have called the shots from the past two seasons. Belichick and Patricia remained close and former Jets coach Adam Gase commented last year that spending time with the two at the Scouting Combine in recent years was informative – and fun.
“You can [Belichick] and Patricia together, they have really good stories, ”said Gase, adding that he never“ laughed more ”than when he was with them.
Patricia is likely to advise Belichick and the team on all phases of football operations, from player ratings to game planning. It is possible that he will be able to work as early as next week, when six training sessions for the Senior Bowl will be held in Mobile, Alabama.
Jim McBride can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @globejimmcbride.