Eagles Hire Ex-Lions Coach Matt Patricia As Defensive Assistant, per Report

The longtime Patriots assistant and former Lions head coach is joining the staff in Philadelphia.

The Eagles are hiring longtime Patriots assistant and former Lions head coach Matt Patricia to the defensive staff under Nick Sirianni, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Patricia, who spent last season as the offensive play-caller for the Patriots, departed after the unit flopped spectacularly in the assistant’s unexpected role in New England. The 48-year-old had a long history of calling defenses, but became a significant part of New England’s offensive staff after Josh McDaniels left his offensive coordinator post to become the head coach of the Raiders.

Despite his troubles as New England’s de-facto offensive coordinator, there is no question that Patricia has plenty of valuable experience on the defensive side of the football, as he led the Patriots to two Super Bowl titles while serving as the defensive coordinator.

His addition to Sirianni’s staff in Philadelphia is also notable due to his reunion with star cornerback Darius Slay, who reportedly did not have the best relationship with Patricia when the two were together in Detroit. Slay was not shy about revealing that his displeasure about the way Patricia treated him while with the Lions before the defensive back was ultimately traded to Philadelphia in 2020.

Sirianni told reporters on Thursday afternoon that the team was trending in the direction of hiring Patricia to the staff, and that he had spoken to Slay about the impending hire. Sirianni told the media that he believes the two will have a good working relationship.

The Eagles are working this offseason to find ways to improve the team after a run to the Super Bowl last season. The team has already locked up quarterback Jalen Hurts to a record-breaking long-term extension, and now adds Patricia to the defensive staff ahead of the NFL draft.