Patriots reportedly keeping one Belichick on coaching staff

Brian Belichick. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots reportedly keeping one Belichick on their coaching staff

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 2/8/24

Although Bill Belichick departed as head coach of the New England Patriots last month, that doesn’t mean there won’t be at least one member of his bloodline still roaming the sidelines in Foxboro.

The Patriots are retaining Brian Belichick, who has served as the team’s safeties coach since 2020, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Brian got his coaching start in New England as a scouting assistant in 2016 before being promoted to coaching assistant from 2017 to 2019 and safeties coach in 2020.

He’s worked closely with first-year head coach Jerod Mayo over the years when he was serving as the team’s linebackers coach.

Patriots safeties have always developed and played well. That's a reflection of their coaching. Brian Belichick has done well and it's a good move by Jerod Mayo to keep him on the staff https://t.co/00VifldGeR
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) February 8, 2024

Brian’s older brother Steve recently departed the organization after 11 years to become the new defensive coordinator at the University of Washington. Steve served in several capacities with the Patriots, including safeties coach, defensive backs coach and outside linebackers coach.

With Mayo promoting defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington to defensive coordinator, Reiss stated Brian could likely retain his job coaching New England’s safeties.

The Patriots front office and coaching staff have been in flux since Bill was fired after 24 years with the franchise. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday that Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf will assume control of the personnel department with the final say over the 53-man roster while director of player personnel Matt Groh will oversee college scouting.

New England also added former Miami Hurricanes general manager of football operations Alonzo Highsmith to its personnel department on Wednesday, though his title was not announced.

In addition to retaining Brian and promoting Covington, other Patriots coaching changes include Alex Van Pelt as the new offensive coordinator, plus the additions of ex-Browns assistant coaches T.C. McCartney to coach quarterbacks and Scott Peters to coach the offensive line.

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