Ohio State’s offseason revamping of its coaching staff took a big step on Wednesday.
After winning the College Football Playoff National Championship, the Buckeyes lost both coordinators, with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly going to the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles heading to Penn State. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has reportedly found Knowles’ replacement, and it is a familiar name.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Ohio State is working on a deal to make Matt Patricia the program’s new defensive coordinator. Patricia, 50, who was head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2018-2020, most recently served as a senior defensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023.
He is best known for his work as defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots from 2012-17, where he helped the franchise win a pair of Super Bowls.
Patricia actually had two stints on staff in New England under Bill Belichick. The first one began in 2004 as an assistant offensive line coach and ran through 2017, his final year as DC.
Patricia’s second term with the Patriots was from 2021-22 after he was fired by Detroit. He served as a senior football advisor and later the team’s offensive line coach.
While Patricia was very successful running New England’s defense under Belichick, his overall resume is a bit of a mixed bag. The Sherrill, New York native was a colossal failure as a head coach, not only going 13-29-1 over two-plus seasons but alienating many of the Lions’ best players during that time.
Additionally, a late-season switch in 2023 which handed Patricia the defensive play calling duties in place of Sean Desai did nothing to stop the Eagles’ collapse down the stretch. Philadelphia did not renew Patricia’s contract for 2024 and won the Super Bowl this season thanks in large part to a retooled defense and the work of new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Patricia did not coach during the 2024 season, instead working for the football website working at the 33rd Team alongside Belichick.
Related: Jim Knowles Has Message For Ryan Day After Leaving For Penn State