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Ohio State hires former NFL head coach as defensive coordinator, per report
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Ohio State has reached a deal to make longtime NFL assistant Matt Patricia its next defensive coordinator, according to a report.
That’s per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, who says a deal is being finalized between the 2 parties. Thamel also reports that Ohio State has decided to promote secondary coach Tim Walton to co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Matt Guerrieri to pass-game coordinator.
Patricia was apart of 3 Super Bowl-winning teams with the New England Patriots while working under legendary coach Bill Belichick. He worked for the Pats from 2004-11 in various roles before being promoted to defensive coordinator ahead of the 2012 season. Two of his Super Bowl rings came while working as Belichick’s DC from 2012 through 2017.
Following a successful stint as defensive coordinator, Patricia spent 3 seasons as the head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2018-2020 but was fired after going just 13-29-1 in Detroit. Since then, Patricia has bounced around in various roles with the Patriots and the Eagles. He notably moved to the offensive side of the ball during his second stint with the Pats from 2021-22, but spent the 2023 campaign as a defensive assistant for Philadelphia.
Patricia replaces Jim Knowles in Columbus after the Pennsylvania native decided to leave for the same job at Penn State earlier this offseason.
For Patricia, this will be his first formal coaching role at the collegiate level since serving as a graduate assistant at Syracuse from 2001-03.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
