The Patriots have a new head coach. Now, New England must make decisions on the rest of its staff.
Patriots assistant coaches reportedly were not given clear insight on their respective job securities immediately after Jerod Mayo was fired. New England planned to reevaluate those coaches once Mayo’s position was backfilled, but given how the 2024 season transpired, it’s fair to assume many, if not most, assistants won’t be back next season.
That means the stage probably is set for new arrivals in Foxboro, Mass. There’s already buzz about a potential high-profile reunion in New England, but Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer highlighted a more under-the-radar candidate in a column published Monday morning. According to Breer, Browns pass game specialist Tommy Rees “is of interest” to the Patriots.
Rees, a former Notre Dame quarterback, started his coaching journey immediately after his playing career fizzled out in 2014. After quick stints with Northwestern and the then-San Diego Chargers, Rees served as the offensive coordinator for his alma mater and Alabama between 2020 and 2023. This season marked his first in Cleveland, where he was challenged to work with four different starting quarterbacks throughout the campaign.
It’s tough to imagine Rees will land the offensive coordinator gig under new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, as old friend Josh McDaniels and Josh McCown feel like more probable candidates. But Vrabel has experience working with Rees, so we shouldn’t be surprised if the 32-year-old joins New England’s staff in some capacity.
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Featured image via Nate Ulrich/USA TODAY Network
