Report: Cleveland Browns to interview New England’s Matt Patricia
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns have added another name to their search list as they have been granted permission to interview New England defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.
The Cleveland Browns have been granted permission to interview New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia for their head coaching vacancy.
The news was first reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Cleveland Browns have requested and received permission to interview Patriots' defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, per a league source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 5, 2016
The Miami Dolphins are also interested in interviewing Patricia, according to Schefter.
The Browns have been down the road before with hiring assistant coaches from the Patriots, going from bad (Romeo Crennel) to worse (Eric Mangini). The Browns also interviewed Josh McDaniels during their last coaching search.
According to Patricia’s coaching bio on New England’s team website:
"Matt Patricia enters his fourth season as defensive coordinator and 12th year coaching in the NFL after he was named defensive coordinator on May 10, 2012. He originally joined the Patriots in 2004 as a coaching assistant."
"Patricia spent five seasons as the Patriots’ linebackers coach and one season coaching the safeties. Since moving to coach the Patriots on defense in 2006, the team has finished in the top-10 in fewest points allowed in eight of his nine seasons with the defense. Patricia’s 2014 defense finished in the top 10 in the NFL in points again en route to a victory in Super Bowl XLIX. Patricia has also helped the Patriots lead the NFL in turnover differential in 2012 (+25) and 2010 (+28) and finished first in the AFC in 2011 (+17). The plus-28 turnover differential in 2010 is tied with the 2011 San Francisco 49ers for the second highest single-season differential in the NFL since 1970."
"Patricia joined the Patriots in 2004 as a coaching assistant and enjoyed immediate success, by helping coach the Patriots to a victory in Super Bowl XXXIX. The following season, Patricia aided Dante Scarnecchia as assistant offensive line coach in a season which the injury-riddled running back corps combined to rush for 1,388 yards on 395 carries."
"Prior to joining the Patriots, Patricia spent six seasons in the college ranks. Immediately preceding his move to the NFL, he was an offensive graduate assistant at Syracuse for three seasons. Prior to joining the Orange, he spent two seasons (1999-2000) as the defensive line coach at Amherst College. Patricia worked as an aeronautical engineer for two years before returning to coaching at Amherst in 1999. Patricia’s first coaching experience came in 1996, when he served as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute."
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It is interesting that the Browns are looking at a defensive coordinator as a potential head coach to replace Mike Pettine, a former defensive coordinator. It is the norm in the NFL, when making a coaching change, to generally go in the opposite direction of the previous coach, but this is the dawn of a new era for the Browns and the power structure of the team.
With the Patriots on a bye week before their first playoff game, the Browns have until Sunday to schedule an interview with Patricia.
The Browns also reportedly have interviews scheduled with Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase and Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin on Jan. 6, and Jacksonville Jaguars offensive line coach Doug Marrone at a date to be determined.