FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts – Matt Patricia, who was dismissed from the Detroit Lions coach in November before completing his third year in office, is returning to the New England Patriots coaching staff in 2021, a source confirmed.
Patricia was an assistant on Bill Belichick’s team from 2004 to 2017 before getting the job at Lions. In Detroit, he posted a 13-29-1 record, with one such victory over the Belichick Patriots at the start of his first season.
It was a turbulent Detroit management for Patricia, and a return to New England – where he is expected to help Belichick’s team in a variety of roles – offers him a safe, family retreat to continue his NFL coaching career.
Patricia, 46, recently served as the Patriots’ defensive coordinator from 2012 to 2017 and, in her absence, Belichick did not give that title to another coach. But Belichick said last season that his son Steve, the coach of the outside linebackers, was calling the defense.
In addition, the coach of internal linebackers Jerod Mayo has a significant role. Mayo, 34, is considered a rising coach, as evidenced by his recent interview with the Philadelphia Eagles for his debut as a coach who went to Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni.
Patricia’s return mirrors, in part, what happened in 2014, when Belichick hired Michael Lombardi – his former Cleveland Browns players’ team director (1991-95) – as assistant head coach.
Lombardi’s familiarity with Belichick, and the team’s overall system, made his transition to the organization quite smooth.
The Boston Globe reported Patricia’s return for the first time.