Patriots Unveil Jerod Mayo Coaching Staff
FOXBORO — The New England Patriots have officially assembled their staff under first-year head coach Jerod Mayo for the upcoming season.
While the heads of several key positional groups had previously been assigned, New England — via team press release on Monday afternoon — confirmed the hiring of new tight ends coach Bob Bicknell and receivers coach Tyler Hughes.
Bicknell joins the Patriots after serving two seasons (2022-23) as a senior offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints. Prior to his role at the Saints, Bicknell spent three seasons (2018-20) with the Cincinnati Bengals coaching wide receivers. He held the same role at Baylor in 2017. Bicknell spent a year with the San Francisco 49ers (2016) and three seasons with both the Philadelphia Eagles (2013-15) and Buffalo Bills (2010-12) after beginning his NFL coaching career at the Kansas City Chiefs (2007-09).
Jan 17, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo (L) and owner Robert Kraft (R) pose for photos after a press conference announcing Mayo's hiring as the team's head coach at Gillette Stadium.
Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Bicknell’s hiring signifies a homecoming for the 54-year-old. A native of Holliston, Mass, he played his college football at Boston College, where he was a two-year letterman at tight end from 1989 to 1990. He also began his coaching career at Chestnut Hill in 1993, coaching safeties, running backs and linebackers until 1997. His father, Jack Sr., was the head coach at Boston College from 1981 to 1990.
Hughes is back for his second tour of duty with New England. He previously spent three seasons with the Patriots (2020-22) as an offense assistant. He spent the 2023 season at the University of Washington as a quality control coach on offense.
Prior to joining New England in 2020, Hughes spent two seasons (2018-19) as the head coach at Bountiful High School in Utah. Before that position, he spent three seasons (2014-16) as head coach of the Division II Minot State in North Dakota, along with one season (2013) at Ohio State, where he served as a quality control assistant and also worked with the quarterbacks. Hughes spent nine seasons at his alma mater Snow College, where he played also played receiver. He served as head coach (2011-12), offensive coordinator (2005-10) and receivers/tight ends coach in 2004.
Hughes’ hiring brings an end to the tenure of Troy Brown as New England’s receivers coach. However, Brown is expected to remain with the team, as first reported by Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. It had been reported that Brown — who has served as a Patriots offensive assistant since 2020, and held the role since 2021 — had been provided an opportunity to stay with the organization, yet was uncertain on his offered role or job title. Brown recently coached the offense of the American team in this year’s Senior Bowl.
The additions of Bicknell and Hughes add the final pieces to the Patriots offensive coaching staff, as the team pivots toward an outside zone-based, west-coast style offense. Since officially taking the helm of the Patriots on Jan 17, Mayo has also brought aboard offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, quarterback coach T.C. McCartney, offensive line coach Scott Peters, assistant offensive line coach Robert Kugler, assistant receivers coach Tiquan Underwood and running backs coach Taylor Embree.
On defense, first-year defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington will be joined by defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery, safeties coach Brian Belichick, cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino and inside linebackers coach Dont’a Hightower. New England also announced the additions of Vinny DePalma and Jamael Lett as defensive coaching assistants in quality control.
Lastly, special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer is set to add two assistants: Tom Quinn as special teams assistant coach and Coby Tippett as special teams coaching assistant/quality control.
