Patriots reportedly add a Greg Schiano disciple to their coaching staff

Not only the New England Patriots’ roster is undergoing a major transformation this offseason, the club’s coaching staff is as well: a total of six position and assistant coaches have opted to leave New England following the team’s victory in Super Bowl 53 — among them three on the defensive side of the ball in play caller and linebackers coach Brian Flores, cornerbacks coach Josh Boyer, and defensive line coach Brendan Daly.

How the Patriots and new coordinator Greg Schiano will replace the departed coaching talent has yet to be announced, but the first name already has been reported earlier today: according to a report by the Boston Herald’s Kevin Duffy, the reigning world champions will add Bob Fraser to their staff in an undisclosed role. If Fraser’s résumé is any indication, though, his position will be a defensive one.

Fraser originally began his coaching career in 1987 and in 2006 started working for Schiano at Rutgers in various roles. He followed him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012, and worked as linebackers coach (2012) and assistant defensive coordinator (2013). Following Schiano’s firing, Fraser returned to Rutgers as the Scarlet Knights’ linebackers coach before reuniting with his former boss at Ohio State from 2016 to 2018 as a defensive quality control coach.

Now, he becomes the fourth outside hire to join New England’s coaching staff this offseason: as noted above, Schiano is expected to become the Patriots’ new defensive coordinator, while Mick Lombardi and Carmen Bricillo are both projected to fill assistant roles on the offensive side of the ball.