Matt Patricia’s recent take on the state of college football makes his jump to be Ohio State’s defensive coordinator look like a good fit
Ohio State made their final big decision when it comes to their 2025 coaching staff on Wednesday by finding a replacement for Jim Knowles. The Buckeyes landed on former Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia to be their next defensive coordinator. Certainly not a name that was brought up early in the process, but an […]
Ohio State made their final big decision when it comes to their 2025 coaching staff on Wednesday by finding a replacement for Jim Knowles.
The Buckeyes landed on former Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia to be their next defensive coordinator. Certainly not a name that was brought up early in the process, but an intriguing one at worst. Patricia is a Super Bowl-winning coordinator with some rough patches in his career.
Ryan Day is taking a chance on an undoubtedly smart football guy to come in and focus on the Xs and Os of the defense. Making the jump to college from the NFL, Patricia recently shared that he is rather intrigued by the current state of college football.
“It’s intriguing. I think the way that it is going to be run. Look, there is a salary cap, NIL, you can get players now. Now, it is free agency every day, I do understand that,” Patricia said recently in an interview with Front Office Sports. “I think you can build your rosters really quick. I think they got a college playoff now, which is exciting and fun. I love it, I love the direction it is going.”
Patricia has not coached in college since 2003 when he was the offensive coordinator at Syracuse. After that, Patrica started his first of two stints with the New England Patriots as an assistant offensive line coach. The veteran coach became the linebackers coach in 2006 where he stayed until 2010.
In 2011, Patricia was tasked with coaching safeties, then he was the defensive coordinator for the Patriots from 2012 until he became the Lions’ head coach in 2018.
Patricia was out after three seasons with the Lions and has served in a couple of part-time roles since then in the NFL. Now, Patricia comes to college where it is more like the NFL than it has ever been with it’s how it operates. Players are paid large amounts of money to attend school and play football.
Patricia likely won’t be recruiting much for the Buckeyes off campus but on campus he is a valuable price thanks to his Super Bowl experience. Time will tell how the hire ultimately ends up working out, but there are reasons to be optimistic about the move to Columbus.
Ohio State Buckeyes receive welcomed news on a player changing tune regarding his college football future
He will be with the Buckeyes.
