Ohio State is hiring Matt Patricia as their next defensive coordinator. He will have a tall task ahead of him, as he will need to replace Jim Knowles, who had coordinated the No. 1 defense in the country last season.
Though Patricia failed as a head coach in the NFL and as an offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, his best success as a coach came when he worked as a defensive coordinator. That’s why many Buckeyes fans think it was a good move. Moreover, Ohio State fans have learned to trust Ryan Day after the team won the national championship.
Many fans said the same thing – they trust that Day is making a good hire.
Patricia, 50, joined the Patriots’ coaching staff in 2004. He began as an assistant offensive line coach for two seasons, then became the team’s linebackers coach from 2006-2010. Patricia served as the Patriots’ safeties coach in 2011 and their defensive coordinator from 2012-2017. He became the Detroit Lions’ head coach in 2018 and went 13-29-1 before being fired early in his third season on the job.
Patricia’s most recent work came in 2022 when he called plays for the Patriots’ offense. He left after that season and then served as a defensive assistant for the Eagles in 2023.
Patricia did not coach in the 2024 season but will have a big role ahead in 2025. And Ohio State fans are trusting that head coach Day has made the right call.
