Matt Patricia drops bold statement about Ohio State that may show how long he’s wanting to stick around Columbus
Buckeye Nation has been thrilled with the defensive coordinator hire.
Last offseason, the Ohio State Buckeyes had a big problem on their hands right after winning the College Football Playoff. Not only were they dealing with the transfer portal, but they also had to replace two coordinators from a team that had just gone on one of the best runs college football had ever seen.
Chip Kelly’s stay as offensive coordinator was always expected to be short — he wanted to jump back to the NFL. Jim Knowles ending up at Penn State in the same role was the bigger surprise, and the Buckeyes went outside the program to fill that job, unlike on the offensive side, where they promoted Brian Hartline. Ohio State’s decision to bring in Matt Patricia wasn’t celebrated at first, but it’s certainly looking like a home-run hire now.
Matt Patricia is clearly loving life in Columbus
“It’s been unbelievable. This place is amazing,” Patricia said Thursday about being with the Buckeyes. “The fans are great, the stadium atmosphere, just all of it — the walk. My kids are in awe. They’ve seen some really cool things in sports, but this has been unbelievable for them.”
Patricia won three Super Bowls as an assistant coach with the New England Patriots, and he hadn’t been at the college level since 2003, when he was a graduate assistant at Syracuse. The move back to college football came with some concerns, but Patricia’s defensive mind has translated perfectly, and there’s no better defense in the country right now. Ohio State kept defensive assistants Tim Walton and Matt Guerrieri, who provided continuity from what Knowles built.
Adding Patricia and his experience has taken the defense to another level — the Buckeyes are allowing just 5.9 points per game, the best mark in college football. They already have two shutouts this season, and with stars like Caleb Downs and Arvell Reese, this might be the most complete defense in the sport.
Patricia is getting his first taste of being a coordinator at the college level, and he’s clearly loving it. Not only are the Buckeyes dominating on the field, but the atmosphere and energy of the college game have made a strong impression on him and his family. Patricia hasn’t been a head coach since being fired by the Detroit Lions in 2022, and he hasn’t served as an NFL coordinator since 2017.
At 51 years old, he could eventually get another shot in the NFL. But with how well things are going in Columbus — and how much everyone involved seems to be enjoying it — the Buckeyes might be able to keep him around for multiple seasons. That would be a major win.
Ohio State Buckeyes News
Jeremiah Smith dropped a bold admission about the Ohio State Buckeyes that is catching attention for good reason
That is quite the statement from the star wideout.
