Matt Patricia Hired as Ohio State’s New Defensive Coordinator
Former Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia is returning to the sidelines, this time in college football. According to reports, Patricia has been hired as Ohio State’s new defensive coordinator, replacing Jim Knowles, who left for the same role at Penn State.
Patricia, 50, is best known for his time as Bill Belichick’s defensive coordinator with the New England Patriots, where he helped the team win three Super Bowls before a disastrous stint as the Lions’ head coach from 2018 to 2020, finishing with a 13-29-1 record. After his firing, he returned to New England in various coaching roles, then joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, where he took over defensive play-calling late in the season but was let go after the team’s wild-card loss to Tampa Bay.
Now, he’ll have a fresh start in Columbus under Ryan Day, who just led the Buckeyes to a national championship and recently signed a $12.5 million-per-year contract extension. Patricia’s challenge will be keeping Ohio State’s defense dominant as they transition to the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
Will Patricia find success in the college ranks after his struggles in the NFL? Buckeye fans will be watching closely.
Ohio State Taps Ex-Lions Coach Matt Patricia as New Defensive Coordinator
