Patriots Insider Suggests Reason For Under-The-Radar Decision

The Patriots coaching staff experienced a near-complete overhaul after New England’s 2024 season finale, but one key contributor survived the mass exodus.

Unlike fellow coordinators Alex Van Pelt and DeMarcus Covington, Jeremy Springer kept his job following the Patriots’ miserable season. It was a warranted decision, as New England’s special teams was consistently solid under Springer’s watch despite the dysfunction that surrounded the club from wire to wire.

But in addition to on-field results, there might have been another reason why Mike Vrabel wanted to keep Springer around in Foxboro, Mass.

“One connection that might have contributed to Vrabel’s decision to retain special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer is with Los Angeles Rams special teams coach Chase Blackburn,” ESPN’s Mike Reiss wrote in a column published Sunday. “Springer and Blackburn worked together in L.A. in 2023, the year after Blackburn had spent the 2022 season on Vrabel’s staff in Tennessee.”

Reiss’ theory could be on the mark, as familiarity and connections were prominent themes for New England’s recent coaching moves. New offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has a ton of experience in the role, while many other staff additions worked under Vrabel in Tennessee.

And with these relationships already strong at One Patriot Place, it should help New England hit the ground running once practices kick off in the spring.