Pride of Detroit
Former Lions head coach Matt Patricia is reportedly going to be the next defensive coordinator for Ohio State.
Matt Patricia is already an unwelcome face for many Detroit Lions fans after his failed 2.5-year stint as the team’s head coach. Now, he’ll be adding to his villain-like ways in Michigan, as Pete Thamel is reporting that Patricia is taking a job with one of the biggest local rivals. Per Thamel, Patricia is expected to become Ohio State’s next defensive coordinator.
The Lions hired Patricia as their head coach in 2018, and he proceeded to go 13-29-1 before getting fired midway through his third year with the team. Not only did the Lions fail to see any success under Patricia, but his brash coaching style clashed with players, forcing a trade of Darius Slay and the exodus of several other players.
After his firing, Patricia went back to New England for a couple years before spending a year on the Eagles’ defensive coaching staff in 2023—only to see Philly’s defense go from eighth in scoring defense to 30th that year. In perhaps no coincidence, the Eagles defense climbed back to best in the NFL this year after they parted ways with Patricia and several other members of the defensive coaching staff.
At Ohio State, Patricia will replace Jim Knowles, who left the Buckeyes this offseason to become Penn State’s next defensive coordinator. He’ll try to help Ohio State repeat as national champions under head coach Ryan Day.
This will be Patricia’s first foray into college coaching since he was an offensive graduate assistant at Syracuse from 2001-03.
