Patriots bringing in former wide receiver for coaching role

The New England Patriots have been busy filling out their coaching staff over the last week. Even during last night's Super Bowl, they were still making hires.

During the third quarter on Sunday night, SI's Albert Breer reported that the Patriots are hiring Tiquan Underwood as their assistant wide receivers coach. The team has yet to name a primary coach at the position.

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Underwood played six years in the NFL, including a stint with the Patriots in 2011. Ironically, he was released by the team the night before the Super Bowl that year (only to be hired during the Super Bowl this year).

After his playing career ended Underwood began his coaching career as a wide receivers coach at FCS program Lafayette. He was there for a year before joining the Miami Dolphins as a quality control coach. The next year Underwood returned to the college level, and was the wide receivers coach at his alma mater Rutgers in 2020 and 2021, then became the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator at Pittsburgh, a job he held the last two years.

As for players he could lead the Patriots to target in the draft, Pitt does have one receiver projected to be taken this year. Bub Means, who was a standout at the Shrine Bowl, is a projected late Day 3 pick.

The Patriots' still need to fill their offensive skill position coaching jobs. Here's a look at where the staff stands currently...

With Jerod Mayo's introduction in the books, the New England Patriots' next step is to build out his coaching staff for 2024. That begins with the coordinators, with the Patriots interviewing candidates for all three positions - offense, defense, and special teams. They'll also have to hire positional coaches once those coordinators are decided.

In 2024, the Patriots will be on their fourth offensive coordinator in four years. When Josh McDaniels left after the 2021 season the team went without an officially-titled coordinator in 2022, with former defensive coach Matt Patricia handling the bulk of the play-calling responsibilities that year. Last year the Patriots brought in Bill O'Brien to replace Patricia, but O'Brien ended up being one-and-done in New England - he took a job at Ohio State earlier this month.

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The Patriots haven't had an officially titled defensive coordinator since Patricia held the job from 2012-2017. Those responsibilities went to Brian Flores in 2018, then were split between Mayo and Steve Belichick from 2019 to 2023.

On special teams, the Patriots haven't officially parted ways with either coordinator Cam Achord and assistant head coach Joe Judge, who worked almost exclusively with the unit last year. However, the fact they're taking interviews at the position means those two likely won't be kept on Mayo's staff.

So, who will be coming in to take these jobs on the new Patriots coaching staff? Here's a look at the confirmed interviews for each position, which will be updated as more news comes in...

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 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 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.

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.