21 February 2024 , 02:00
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The New England Patriots have made sweeping changes by bringing in 17 new coaches to work alongside new boss Jerod Mayo.
This comes after the team decided to part ways with Bill Belichick. Mayo, 37, became the 15th coach in the history of the NFL franchise last month. This was just a day after Belichick agreed to leave the Patriots. Now, the team have announced their new hires.
This means the Patriots have now hired a total of 19 new people. This includes offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer. The team also promoted former defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington to defensive coordinator.
In terms of numbers, this is already a bigger group of assistants than the 18 that Belichick had last season. And there are still more arrivals to be announced, with rumours that the staff could grow to over 24 coaches.
But it's clear from the moves already made that the focus has been on revamping the offence. Every offensive position on the staff is now filled by a new hire.
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This includes Van Pelt as coordinator, who comes from the Cleveland Browns. Former New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo is now the senior offensive assistant, a position their new tight ends coach Bob Bicknell held at the New Orleans Saints for the last two seasons.
Taylor Embree arrives as running backs coach from the New York Jets, and Tyler Hughes is back as wide receivers coach after a year away at the University of Washington. Robert Kugler comes in as assistant offensive line coach after two years with the Carolina Panthers; Michael McCarthy is the new offensive coaching assistant/quality control, roles he previously held with the Browns and the Detroit Lions.
Jerod Mayo has overhauled the offensive coaching staff (Getty Images)TC McCartney also arrives as quarterbacks coach from Cleveland, where he overlapped with new offensive line coach Scott Peters. Former Patriots player Tiquan Underwood returns as assistant wide receivers coach.
Defensively, there are fewer changes. Belichick's son Brian stays as safeties coach and cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino keeps his position under promoted coordinator Covington.
The most notable addition is Dont'a Hightower, who returns to the organization a year after announcing his retirement. The three-time Super Bowl champion replaces Mayo as inside linebackers coach.
Vinny DePalma arrives as a defensive coaching assistant/quality control straight out of Boston College. Another new defensive coaching assistant/quality control, Jamael Lett, comes from a collegiate background, most recently at the University of North Carolina.
In other news, Jerry Montgomery has left the Green Bay Packers after nine years and is now a defensive line coach in New England. Drew Wilkins has left the Giants to become the outside linebackers coach. On the special teams, Tom Quinn is the assistant coach, with Coby Tippett as the coaching assistant/quality control. Additionally, Brian McDonough has joined as the assistant strength and conditioning coach.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.