On Wednesday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Ohio State is finalizing a deal to make former Lions head coach Matt Patricia their new defensive coordinator.
Patricia, who was fired from his post as the head man in Detroit during his third season on the job in 2020, has spent the bulk of his coaching career in New England with the Patriots. While his most recent stint with the franchise saw him in a senior advisor role that included offensive play calling duties as well as serving as offensive line coach, Patricia’s bread and butter throughout his career has been on the defensive side of the football.
His crowning achievements on defense came in 2014 and 2016, where as defensive coordinator the Patriots won Super Bowl XLIX and Super Bowl LI.
Here’s a look at Patricia’s full 29-year coaching resume:
1996: RPI Graduate Assistant
1999-2000: Amherst Defensive Line Coach
2001-03: Offensive Graduate Assistant
2004-05: New England Patriots Assistant Offensive Line Coach
2006-10: Patriots Linebackers Coach
2011: Patriots Safeties Coach
2012-17: Patriots Defensive Coordinator
2018-20: Detroit Lions Head Coach
2021: Patriots Senior Advisor
2022: Patriots Senior Advisor & Offensive Line Coach
2023: Philadelphia Eagles Senior Defensive Assistant
2025-present: Ohio State Defensive Coordinator
Patricia spent the 2024 football season working in the media, making regular appearances on former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick’s podcast with Underdog Fantasy, as well as appearances as an analyst on NFL Network.
Like his former boss, Patricia’s dalliance with the sports media world was seen as a rehabilitation tour, of sorts, for a coach that was seen as damaged goods after disastrous runs in Detroit as head coach and New England as de facto OC.
While his year away from the game did not lead to a coaching gig at the professional level, it has reportedly landed him on the coaching staff of the defending national champions at the college level.
In 16 games last season, Ohio State ranked No. 1 in all of FBS in total defense, allowing just 4.19 yards per play. Dominance on the defensive side of the ball allowed for the Buckeyes to outscore opponents 571-206, including 13 games allowing 17 points-or-less. And during the College Football Playoff alone, Ohio State outscored opponents 145-75.
While Patricia will be inheriting a wagon, it will be abundantly clear if the Buckeyes take a step back with the 50-year-old as their new defensive signal caller.
Let’s see if “Matty P” can recapture his useless-pencil-behind-the-ear magic from the 2010s at the college level in 2025.