Patriots Reportedly Lose Key Front Office Exec To College Ranks

It looks like the New England Patriots front office will undergo yet another change this offseason.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that pro personnel director Pat Stewart is leaving the Patriots to go to the college ranks and become the general manager of Nebraska football.

This isn’t the first time Stewart left the Patriots. Stewart worked for the Patriots for 11 seasons from 2007-17 before becoming the national scout of the Philadelphia Eagles. Stewart then teamed up with Matt Rhule, who is the head coach at Nebraska, with the Carolina Panthers starting in 2020. Stewart spent three seasons with the Panthers, climbing to as high as vice president of player personnel before returning to the Patriots in 2023.

The connection between Stewart and Rhule appears to have played a factor in Stewart’s latest move. Aside from their time together with the Panthers, the two worked alongside one another early in their careers at Western Carolina and Temple.

With Stewart no longer with the Patriots, ESPN’s Mike Reiss speculated that Sam Fioroni, who was New England’s assistant pro personnel director last season, or other internal candidates could receive a promotion to Stewart’s vacated spot.