Matt Patricia Leaves Patriots For Super Bowl Team
FOXBORO — The Matt Patricia Era with the New England Patriots has come to an end.
After a whirlwind of confusion regarding Patricia’s future engulfed social media on Thursday afternoon, the much-maligned assistant coach is ready to join the staff of the Philadelphia Eagles as a senior defensive assistant.
Shortly after Eagles coach Nick Sirianni confirmed that Patricia’s hiring was “trending in the that direction,” his move to Philadelphia was confirmed by ESPN.
Prior to his failed turn as Pats offensive play-caller, Patricia was perhaps best recognized for his time as the team’s defensive coordinator — or possibly for his Super Bowl weekend airport attire. Still, he is quite accomplished in directing a defense. He served six seasons as the team's defensive coordinator from 2012 to 2017. During that span, he won three Super Bowls with the Patriots; two as defensive coordinator, and presided over a defense in 2016 which led the NFL in fewest points allowed.
“Obviously, his resume speaks for itself,” Sirianni said of Patricia. “He gives you a great mind in there that’s done it at the highest level … gives me another former head coach I can bounce ideas off.”
The 48-year-old just finished a tumultuous season as New England's offensive architect — a campaign which will hardly be remembered with fondness. The Pats offense regressed from one showing significant promise in 2021, to a subpar unit dwelling among the NFL's bottom teams. The 2022 iteration of Patriots finished 7th-worst in total yards and 17th in the NFL in points-per-game.
Additionally, quarterback Mac Jones also displayed notable discomfort in New England's new offensive system throughout the season. At times, the disconnect between the players and the coaching staff was so overt that Jones was observed hurling expletive-laden frustrations, believed to be in the direction of his coaches. As a result, Patricia was relieved of his duties as offensive play caller and offensive line coach in favor of Bill O’Brien and Adrian Klemm, respectively.
Patricia began his coaching career with the Patriots as an offensive coaching assistant under Belichick in 2004, the same year the team won its third championship in Super Bowl XXXIX. In 2005, upon the departure of assistant offensive line/tight ends coach Jeff Davidson, Patricia was reassigned as the Patriots' assistant offensive line coach.
Patricia’s lone stint as an NFL head coach was largely forgettable. He finished his tenure with a 13–29–1 (.314) record in two and a half seasons as head coach of the Detroit Lions. The team finished last in the NFC North in both of Patricia's full seasons and were in last place at the time of his firing in November 2020.
Following the expiration of his contract with New England, Patricia had been rumored to be joining Denver Broncos earlier in the offseason. He will now join one of the top preventive units in the NFL. His hiring by Philadelphia also reunites him with cornerback Darius Slay — with whom he worked in Detroit and has a previously contentious relationship.
As for New England, Belichick and his staff are creating a “clean slate” for 2023 by continuing their preparations for next week's NFL Draft.
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