Despite thoughts that his infamous Roger Goodell "clown"shirt could hold him back from possible jobs, the New England Patriots are reportedly "bracing" for top coordinator Matt Patricia to leave the organization, per Pro Football Talk, most likely for the Detroit Lions head coaching opening.
The move comes in the midst of an NFL playoff run as well as reported discord between the three most important people in the organization — owner Bob Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady.
Patricia, 43, has been with the Patriots since 2004. He started as an offensive assistant in 2004, and he was the assistant offensive line coach in 2005. He moved to linebackers coach from 2006-2010, and he coached safeties in 2011 before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2012.
Patricia doesn't exactly have the background of a typical NFL coach. He didn't play in the league, and he played college football at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he earned a degree in aeronautical engineering. There probably aren't many rocket scientists coaching in the NFL.
The Patriots don't have top level personnel on defense, and they struggled during the first four games of the season. They recovered and were rolling heading into the playoffs.
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