Ohio State is searching for a new defensive coordinator after Jim Knowles left for the same position at Penn State, and one former NFL head coach is in consideration for the job.
Matt Patricia visited Ohio State on Monday to discuss the team’s defensive coordinator opening, Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reports.
Patricia has two decades of experience coaching at the NFL level. He took a year off this season after spending 2023 as a senior defensive analyst with the Philadelphia Eagles. The 50-year-old has worked for college programs, though the last time was when he was a graduate assistant with Syracuse in 2003.
The majority of Patricia’s coaching career has been spent working under Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots. He worked his way up the ladder in New England and became the team’s defensive coordinator in 2012. Patricia was the Patriots’ DC for six seasons before being named the head coach of the Detroit Lions.
Patricia coached the Lions for two-plus seasons from 2018-2020. His tenure with the team was not a success, as he went just 13-29-1 and did not make the playoffs. He then returned to the Patriots for a brief second tenure before landing in Philly.
Knowles served as the defensive coordinator at Ohio State for four seasons. The Buckeyes allowed just 12.9 points per game during their championship season this year, which placed them first among 134 FBS schools. Their next defensive coordinator will have some high expectations to live up to.
