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All the NFL head-coaching vacancies have been filled. Matt Patricia, the New England Patriots defensive coordinator who reportedly interviewed with the Cleveland Browns, will not have a new job next season.
Nevertheless, the 41-year-old is still making the case that he belongs right in the thick of the discussion the next time someone is fired, an often occurrence in the NFL.
Even with an obvious lack of head coaching experience, he brings a lot to the table.
Since Patricia, the team’s former linebackers coach and safeties coach, took over as defensive coordinator in 2012, the Patriots have finished in the top 10 in scoring defense all four seasons. This year, even after the departures of Darrelle Revis and Vince Wilfork, they ranked seventh in yards per play allowed. Players like Malcolm Butler, Jamie Collins and Logan Ryan have transformed into starts under Patricia’s reign.
Last week, his defense throughout out-played the offense of Doug Pederson, who was hired as the Eagles’ head coach.
When his named was being floated around a couple weeks as a potential candidate for one of the many vacancies, Patricia, who has a degree in aeronautical engineering, was described as “freaky smart” by one evaluator, according to Sports Illustrated‘s Robert Klemko.
Dennis Goldman, who worked with Patricia at Syracuse, put it simply:
You’re talking about a brilliant, brilliant guy. My daughter was in high school at the time, taking calculus, and she was having a little trouble. So he would come over the house and tutor her and helped her to the point where she was able to get a great grade.
He’s young, he’s passionate, he’s highly intelligent and he has a decade of experience inside a winning culture.
When the Patriots and Denver Broncos meet for the AFC Championship Sunday, there won’t be a shortage of sub-plots. Brady vs. Manning. Brady and Belichick aiming for yet another Super Bowl appearance. The Pats’ dangerous offense vs. the Broncos’ No. 1 defense.
But the continued ascent of Patricia is certainly worth your attention, as well.
How the Patriots defense fares in this specific game won’t make or break his case as an eventual head coach, but if he shuts down a future Hall-of-Famer (albeit nearing the end of his career) and helps New England to another Super Bowl, it would be yet another impressive accomplishment to add to the growing list of feats for the rising star.