Bill Belichick is used to seeing brain drains on his coaching staff. That’s what happens when you rule the NFL for 20 years: other teams want to mirror your operation. But this year’s exodus is different, and more concerning than previous cycles.
Instead of leaving for promotions, some coaches are taking lateral positions elsewhere. Learning under Belichick doesn’t appear to carry the same allure it once did.
It was striking last week when Josh McDaniels took three Patriots assistants with him to Vegas, two of whom aren’t changing their job titles. After just spending one season in New England, quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree will fulfill the same duty with the Raiders. Offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo, who joined the Patriots staff in 2019, also left to lead the Raiders’ O-line.
Mick Lombardi is receiving a promotion, going from receivers coach to offensive coordinator. But that’s probably a nominal title, considering McDaniels’ offensive background. Lombardi only spent three years with the Patriots, despite his father’s close relationship with Belichick.
With McDaniels out of New England, there was seemingly a path for Lombardi to ascend up the ranks here, too. For whatever reason, he passed.
We’ve read for years about Belichick’s notoriously low pay scale for assistant coaches. They work excruciating hours and are often given little credit. Brian Daboll calls the grueling arrangement the “20/20 deal:” 20 hours per day, $20,000 per year.
But in the past, young Belichick assistants stuck around. McDaniels was on staff for 17 years; Daboll was here for nine; Eric Mangini was around for six; Bill O’Brien worked under Belichick for four. Stalwart offensive assistants Dante Scarnecchia and Ivan Fears, who’s reportedly considering retirement, were with the Patriots for more than two decades.
Matt Patricia was on staff for 13 years before coaching the Lions, and crawling back to Belichick after his humiliating firing.
It’s looking increasingly likely that Patricia will play a big role on offense next season, and maybe even call plays. Mike Reiss reported there is a feeling among “NFL personnel” that Patricia will make the switch.
That would be just sad. The NFL is brimming with bright offensive minds, yet Belichick seems prepared to entrust Patricia and fellow retread Joe Judge to handle Mac Jones in his crucial second season.
Neither coach has any extended offensive experience.
Belichick’s staff now almost solely consists of family friends, retreads, novices from obscure colleges, and his children. The Patriots were not a particularly well coached team last season: they were a disaster on special teams and often flagged for not knowing simple rules. Most egregiously, they allowed a league-high four blocked kicks.
But overmatched special teams coach Cam Achord (a proud product of Southwest Mississippi Community College) isn’t going anywhere. Belichick hasn’t dismissed a single coach.
Instead, they just leave on their own.
At 70 years old, Belichick enters next season with no defensive or offensive coordinator. This isn’t unusual: Belichick didn’t have an OC his first three seasons with the Browns, either. But at least Nick Saban ran his defense.
Outside of Jerod Mayo, and possibly Steve Belichick, there doesn’t seem to be a single rising star on staff. And now, even the “yes men” are running for the exits.
Maybe the greatest coach in NFL history is either unwilling or not capable of filling out his staff. Coaches come and go, but the program appears to be broken.
