Earlier this offseason, it was learned the Patriots will bring back former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia after he was fired in Detroit, along with research assistant Evan Rothstein.
It appears another member of Patricia's staff is also coming to New England, although he has some experience with the Patriots as well.
According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, Billy Yates has been working with the coaching staff in recent weeks and is expected to stick with the team for the 2021 season.
Yates was an offensive lineman for the Patriots from 2004-08 and then worked with the team over the summer in 2015 as part of the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship. He joined the Lions in 2018 and spent two years working as part of the WCF Minority Coaching Assistantship before becoming the assistant offensive line coach last season.
It's unclear what his exact title will be, but he in all likelihood will be working with co-offensive line coaches Cole Popovich and Carmen Bricillo.
