The New England Patriots coaching staff is in high demand this offseason as both offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will be interviewing for multiple head coaching opportunities.
McDaniels is drawing most of the attention and has interviews with the Rams, Jaguars, and 49ers. Patricia has at least two interviews of his own, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Rams now have requested HC interviews w/ Buffalo's Anthony Lynn, and New England coordinators Matt Patricia and Josh McDaniels, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 2, 2017
San Diego is off and running: Chargers have requested permission for HC interview with Patriots DC Matt Patricia, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 2, 2017
Hopefully Patricia loves California because the Los Angeles Rams and the probable Los Angeles Chargers have requested interviews with the Patriots defensive coordinator.
Patricia has been a Patriots coach for 13 years. He started as an offensive assistant in 2004 and assistant offensive line coach in 2005. He moved to the linebackers from 2006-2010 and coached the safeties as the de facto defensive coordinator in 2011.
Patricia has served as the Patriots defensive coordinator since 2012 and the team has ranked in the top 10 for points allowed in each season, culminating with a #1 overall ranking in 2016.
As a coach, Patricia is known for his vast knowledge and ability to incorporate any combination of personnel into a viable defense. He lost two of his best defensive players over the course of 2016 and the group kept improving. There are concerns about how much influence head coach Bill Belichick has on the defense, but Patricia is loved by his players and should be a good leader.
Linebackers coach Brian Flores would be the next in line to be defensive coordinator should Patricia depart. Flores joined the Patriots alongside Patricia in 2004, but started as a scout for his first four years. He helped with the special teams and the offense for his next four years, before moving to the defense in 2011. Flores was the safeties coach from 2012-15 before becoming the linebackers coach this season, an indicator of his role in the defensive hierarchy.