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Detroit Lions reportedly poach Patriots coordinator

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Four games into this NFL season, it’s hard to imagine that any team would have been interested in hiring Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia as its next coach.

New England was off to a sluggish 2-2 start, and the defense was, well, offensive, giving up 32 points per game.

Without a doubt, the defending Super Bowl champs looked to be on the decline.

So much for appearances. After that low point, the Pats went 11-1 to finish the season, with its much-maligned defense giving up 20 or more points just twice.

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Following Saturday’s 35-14 AFC Divisional round thumping of Tennessee, ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Patricia will be hired as the next coach of the Detroit Lions.

Patricia was a hot commodity last week, conducting interviews with multiple teams during New England’s bye week.

In fact, the New York Daily News had reported it was just about a done deal that Patricia would be the choice of the Giants to replace Ben McAdoo.

But Lions general manager Bob Quinn appears to have reached back to his roots as a New England executive to snare his No. 1 choice.

We feel safe in saying that Patricia will be the first coach in NFL history with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering, which he earned at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1996.

The 43-year old joined Bill Belichick’s staff in 2004 as an offensive assistant, being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2012.

Since that time, the Patriots have gone 75-21, and have won two Super Bowls.

Patricia’s defense has yielded yardage this season — finishing 12th in rushing yards per game and 25th in passing yards during that span — but allowed just 19.2 points per game, second in the NFL.

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He will take over a Lions team that finished 9-7 under Jim Caldwell.

In addition to having to replace Patricia, it looks like the Patriots will have to find a new offensive coordinator as well. NFL Insider Ian Rapoport tweeted Sunday that most believe Josh McDaniels will become the next head coach at Indianapolis.

Both the Lions and Colts will have to wait to make their new hires official, however. Neither Patricia nor McDaniels can officially be hired until the Patriots’ season ends. New England, of course is one win away from going back to the Super Bowl.

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Mike is an 11-time Michigan Emmy Award winner who has spent nearly 30 years working in sports media.
Mike has spent nearly 30 years in all aspects of sports media, including on-air, 10 at ESPN and another 10 at Fox Sports Detroit. He now works as a TV agent, and lives with his family in West Bloomfield, MI.
Birthplace
Sudbury, Massachusetts
Honors/Awards
11-time Michigan Emmy winner
Education
Emerson College
Books Written
The Longest Year: One Family's Journey Of Life, Death, And Love/If These Walls Could Talk: Detroit Tigers/If These Walls Could Talk: Detroit Lions
Topics of Expertise
Sports




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