The Patriots will still have a Belichick family member on their coaching staff in 2024
Sep 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots assistant Brian Belichick against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Cardinals 23-21. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots will have a member of the Belichick family on their coaching staff in 2024.
On Wednesday night, ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported that Brian Belichick will be back on the coaching staff next year. Belichick has been the Patriots’ safeties coach since 2020, after joining the team as a general assistant in 2017.
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Brian is the younger son of former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Steve Belichick, Brian’s older brother, had been the Patriots linebackers coach since 2020 and on staff since 2012. An offer was reportedly made for him to stay on staff too, but he took a job as the defensive coordinator at the University of Washington earlier this week.
The news of Belichick’s return caps a busy day for the Patriots. Quarterbacks coach T.C. McCarty and offensive line coach Scott Peters were also added to the coaching staff (with McCartney’s hire confirmed by Reiss on Wednesday night), while in the front office the team hired Alonzo Highsmith as the structure of the post-Belichick personnel department was reported for the first time.
With Belichick presumably stepping into his old role as safeties coach, that leaves the Patriots with two spots left to fill on defense – linebackers coach and cornerbacks coach. On offense the team still has not announced running backs, wide receivers, or tight ends coaches. For a full look at the staff in progress, check out our Patriots coaching staff tracker…
Patriots coaching staff tracker: Building out the staff
Offensive coaching staff
Akron Beacon JournalBrowns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt directs the offense during training camp, Aug. 5, 2022 in Berea. (Syndication: Akron Beacon Journal)
Offensive coordinator: Alex Van Pelt
Quarterbacks coach: T.C. McCartney
Running backs coach: Taylor Embree
Wide receivers coach: Unknown (no official parting of ways with Troy Brown)
Assistant wide receivers coach: Tiquan Underwood
Tight ends coach: Vacant
Offensive line coach: Scott Peters
Assistant offensive line coach: Robert Kugler
Offensive assistant: Ben McAdoo
Offensive assistant: Michael McCarthy
The Patriots completed their coordinator search by hiring Van Pelt, a former NFL quarterback. Now, they begin the process of filling out his staff. Here’s a look at who they’ve been linked to for positional coaching roles…
— Robert Kugler (former Carolina Panthers assistant offensive line coach)
— Ben McAdoo (former New York Giants head coach)
— T.C. McCartney (former Cleveland Browns coach)
x — Andy Dickerson (hired by Cleveland Browns)
Patriots’ offensive coordinator interviews…
— Scott Turner (Las Vegas Raiders pass game coordinator)
— Klint Kubiak (San Francisco 49ers pass game coordinator)
— Luke Getsy (former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator)
— Brian Fleury (San Francisco 49ers tight ends coach)
— Tanner Engstrand (Detroit Lions pass game coordinator)
— Jerrod Johnson**** (Houston Texans quarterbacks coach)
— Thomas Brown***** (Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator)
— Nick Caley (Los Angeles Rams tight ends coach)
— Zac Robinson*** (Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator/quarterbacks coach)
— Dan Pitcher** (Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach)
— Shane Waldron* (Seahawks offensive coordinator)
*Waldron was hired as the Chicago Bears OC after interviewing with the Patriots
**Pitcher was promoted to the Bengals’ OC job, replacing new Titans head coach Brian Callahan
***Robinson was hired as the Atlanta Falcons OC after interviewing with the Patriots
****Johnson is staying in Houston in his current role
*****Brown was hired as the Chicago Bears pass game coordinator after interviewing with the Patriots
Defensive coaching staff
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsDec 12, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Defensive coordinator: DeMarcus Covington
Defensive line coach: Jerry Montgomery
Inside linebackers coach: Dont’a Hightower
Outside linebackers coach: Drew Wilkins
Cornerbacks coach: Mike Pellegrino
Safeties coach: Brian Belichick
The Patriots named Covington their defensive coordinator, promoting him from within (he was previously the defensive line coach). Mayo and Covington now will go through the process of building out the rest of the staff. Above are coaches they’ve interviewed for positional roles since officially promoting Covington, and below is a look at the other coaches the Patriots interviewed for the DC role, who could be candidates for positional coaching jobs.
— Jerry Montgomery (former Green Bay Packers defensive line coach & run game coordinator)
— Gerald Alexander (Pittsburgh Steelers assistant defensive backs coach)
— Michael Hodges (New Orleans Saints linebackers coach)
— Christian Parker (Denver Broncos defensive backs coach)
— Tem Lukabu (Carolina Panthers outside linebackers coach)
Special teams staff
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY SportsJun 2, 2022; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams special teams assistant coach Jeremy Springer during organized team activities at California Lutheran University. Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Special teams coordinator: Jeremy Springer
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has reported the Patriots are hiring Springer as their new special teams coordinator. The team has had multiple special teams coaches in the past, so look for him to add one or two assistants to his staff. The only other coach the Patriots interviewed for special teams who hasn’t taken another job yet is Thomas McGaughey.
