Patriots line up 2 more head coach interviews
The New England Patriots are expected to interview two of the top head coaching candidates in the NFL in the coming weeks. Add two more options to the list.
According to multiple reports, the Pats are interviewing longtime NFL-ers Byron Leftwich and Pep Hamilton for their head coach vacancy. Leftwich and Hamilton have both been offensive coordinators at the NFL level, but have never been head coaches.
Leftwich played quarterback in the NFL for nine seasons, his final one in 2012. He re-entered the league in 2016 as an intern for the Arizona Cardinals. He was most notably the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2019-2022, working with Tom Brady for the final three seasons of his playing career.
Hamilton, meanwhile, has 26 seasons of coaching experience between both college and the NFL, plus one season as head coach of the DC Defenders in the XFL. He most recently served as the offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans in the 2022 season.
Leftwich and Hamilton have both been out of the league since 2022, but their interviews could indicate that they’re looking to get back into coaching. They should be considered longshots as Patriots head coaching candidates, but could garner consideration to become their next offensive coordinator or quarterbacks coach, assuming the Pats don’t keep Alex Van Pelt or T.C. McCartney in the fold. Both candidates also satisfy the NFL’s “Rooney Rule,” making the Pats compliant with league guidelines.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft spoke to reporters on Monday, indicating the team will “move fast” to hire its next head coach. Kraft also said the new HC is “going to have big input on who the players are and who the [assistant] coaches are,” and that those hires will be “his decision.”
The Patriots have reportedly lined up an interview with former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, and have already requested to interview Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Per NFL rules, Johnson will not be able to interview with teams until the Lions, the NFC’s No. 1 seed, are no longer playing in the NFL Playoffs.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
