Patriots reportedly already have their next defensive coordinator
Just hours after they were upset in Super Bowl LII by the Eagles, and before they officially have an opening, the New England Patriots reportedly already have their next defensive coordinator lined up.
Former NFL coach and current Ohio State assistant coach and defensive coordinator Greg Schiano is expected to be hired as defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots, according to Football Scoop.
Schiano would replace Matt Patricia as New England’s defensive coordinator. Patricia is expected to be announced as the Detroit Lions head coach this week.
Schiano has been the assistant coach and defensive coordinator under Urban Meyer at Ohio State the past two seasons. Before that, he was the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccanneers in 2012 and 2013.
The Bucs went 7-9 and 4-12 in those two seasons before Schiano was fired.
Prior to his stint with Tampa Bay, Schiano coached for 11 seasons at Rutgers, leading them to six bowl game appearances.
He’s long been known as a defensive-minded coach, starting out as a secondary coach for five seasons with Penn State before serving three seasons as defensive assistant with the Chicago Bears and two seasons as defensive coordinator for the University of Miami prior to taking the Rutgers job.
Schiano was thought to be the next head coach at the University of Tennessee this past November after Butch Jones was fired. But Tennessee reportedly backed out of an agreement to hire Schiano in November after protests erupted over Schiano’s five-year stint at Penn State when he coached under convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick has been a friend and admirer of Schiano since his Rutgers days.
“Yeah, I think Greg’s a tremendous coach,” Belichick said after the Tennessee debacle. “I’ve learned an awful lot from him and had an opportunity to spend a lot of time with him when he was at Rutgers and Stephen [Belichick, Bill’s son] was at Rutgers and I’d go down there. The lacrosse and the football programs are in the same building.”
Stephen Belichick played under Schiano at Rutgers as a long-snapper. The Patriots have drafted several Rutgers players over the years, including safety Devin McCourty, cornerback Logan Ryan and safety Duron Harmon.
Of course, the Patriots can’t interview anyone until the opening is official, and the opening won’t be official until Patricia’s status with the Lions is announced.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the hiring of Matt Patricia as the next head coach of the Detroit Lions would be announced midweek. https://t.co/9JkU58FNCw
— WILX News 10 (@wilxTV) February 5, 2018
Gary Tanguay with NBC Sports Boston reported last week that the Pats would interview Schiano.
Per source, Greg Schiano is expected to interview for the Patriot’s defensive coordinator position when Patricia goes to Detroit.
— Gary Tanguay (@Gary_Tanguay) February 2, 2018
However, Fox Sports Bruce Feldman reported Tuesday that Schiano hasn’t decided if he’s leaving OSU and there’s a possibility Pats linebackers coach Brian Flores could be promoted to DC.
Saw the report that Greg Schiano is leaving #OhioState for the #Patriots DC job. Am told Schiano hasn't decided whether he's leaving OSU yet. Brian Flores may get promoted to DC in New England. Schiano could have a job on the Pats staff w/ Belichick but still hasn't decided.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 5, 2018
Once Patricia is officially hired by the Lions, things should become a lot clearer about his replacement in New England.
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