Pats Pulpit
Hughes coached the Patriots’ wide receivers in 2024.
Tyler Hughes, who was not retained as the New England Patriots’ wide receivers coach following the 2024 season, has found a new job. According to a report by Mike Reiss of ESPN, Hughes has joined the University of Alabama as an analyst.
Hughes had two separate stints in New England. He first was hired in 2020 by head coach Bill Belichick to serve as an offensive assistant. He left in 2023 for a one-year stint at the University of Washington, but was brought back by Belichick’s successor, Jerod Mayo, last offseason to work with the wide receiver group.
Despite the familiarity and Hughes experience as a coach, the Patriots’ wideouts struggled in 2024. As a whole, the group caught just 161 passes for 1,718 yards and 10 touchdowns while most of its young players — sophomore DeMario Douglas and rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker — failed to live up to expectations.
Douglas, who caught 66 passes for 621 yards and 3 TDs, was nonetheless the group’s most productive player. Alongside Kayshon Boutte (589) and Kendrick Bourne (305), he was one of just three Patriots wideouts to finish the year with over 100 receiving yards.
New head coach Mike Vrabel moving in a different direction did therefore not come as a surprise. The Patriots announced Todd Downing as their new receivers coach in early February.
Hughes, meanwhile, will reunite with his former head coach at Washington, Kalen DeBoer. DeBoer, who took over for long-time Alabama coach Nick Saban last year, went 9-4 in his first season leading the Crimson Tide.
