Pats Pulpit
The Patriots’ newly-released media guide gives insight into some changes in the scouting and football operations departments.
The New England Patriots are in full-on preparatory mode for their 2025 training camp. The first group of players — rookies, quarterbacks, rehabbing veterans — has already reported to Gillette Stadium, with the rest set to follow on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the team will hold its first practice of the summer.
With camp nearing, the Patriots also released an updated version of their media guide. An up-close look at it reveals that the team has made several previously unreported changes to its staff.
Let’s take a look at the most notable among them.
Brandon Martuccio and Dexter Taylor: Martuccio and Taylor, who served as strength and conditioning assistants in 2024, remain with the team in the same capacity heading into 2025. This means that new head coach Mike Vrabel retained the entire strength staff from his predecessor, Jerod Mayo. The only change is Frank Piraino being installed as the head of the department in his role as director of sports performance.
Casey Belongia: There was some speculation that Belongia might be headed out the door this offseason, but he did not go anywhere. In fact, he was promoted: a midwest area scout in 2024, he is now the team’s national scout responsible for the west region — taking over the role previously held by new college scouting director Tony Kinkela. Belongia joined the Patriots last year after 10 seasons in Jacksonville.
Matt Evans: After four seasons as national scout, responsible for the east region, Evans has taken a step up the organizational ladder. He is the team’s new assistant director of college scouting and as such will serve as Tony Kinkela’s right-hand man atop the college scouting department. His former title remains unoccupied at the moment.
Justin Hickman: Entering his fifth season with the team, Hickman still serves as an area scout. However, his area of responsibility changed from the northeast to the midwest; he has taken over Casey Belongia’s old job.
J.T. Hill: Hill is entering Year 4 with the Patriots, and his first in a new role. He previously served as west area scout and is now the team’s southeast area scout — a role previously held by since-departed Josh Hinch.
Joe McDonald: The Patriots now have two Joe McDonalds on their staff. The first was hired as senior analyst during the 2024 season, the other as a scouting assistant this offseason. The latter McDonald spent the last three seasons as a position coach at Tufts.
Marshall Oium: Oium’s role continues to change heading into his eighth season with the Patriots. He will serve as director of scouting projects in 2025 after previously working as director of football strategy (2024), assistant director of scouting (2023) and pro scout (2018-22). His new role did not previously exist on the organization’s staff.
Landon Simpson: Simpson first joined the team last year as a scouting assistant. He...
