Troy Brown Remains With New England Patriots After Interest In College Job

New England Patriots assistant Troy Brown was reportedly in contention for the Arizona State receivers coach vacancy.

Sep 16, 2012; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots former player Troy Brown honored during half / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Troy Brown spent his entire playing career and the first four years of his coaching career with the New England Patriots, and for now at least, he's still around in Foxoboro.

The Patriots' assistant was reportedly in contention for the wide receivers coach position with the Arizona State Sun Devils, per 247Sports. However, the Sun Devils instead filled the position with former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward, who was the head coach of the UFL's San Antonio Brahmas last season.

Sep 16, 2012; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots former player Troy Brown honored during half / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

As such, Brown, 52, is set to return for his fifth season on the Patriots' coaching staff, but in a different role than before.

Brown joined the Patriots' coaching staff in 2020 as a running backs coach and kick returners coach, then moved to wide receivers coach a year later. While Jerod Mayo did not bring Brown back as his wide receivers coach, instead hiring Tyler Hughes to the position, he is sticking around in a "skill development" role. As such, he's one of the few coaches from Bill Belichick's staff to still be around.

“Troy’s still on the staff. He has a skills development role with our staff going forward,” Mayo said during the NFL annual meeting last month. “He’ll work with the players. He’ll work with the skill players, and also work with the scheme on the offensive side of the ball. So, he’s still with us.”

As a player, Brown spent his entire 15-year career with the Patriots from 1993-2007. During his time in New England, he caught 557 passes for 6,366 yards and 31 touchdowns. He was a member of the Patriots' first three Super Bowl teams, and was inducted to the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2012.