Ex-Lions HC Matt Patricia ‘interviewed for the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator position’
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Former Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia ‘interviewed for Denver Broncos defensive coordinator job’ as Rex Ryan and Vance Joseph also battle for the job.
The Denver Broncos interviewed Matt Patricia on Wednesday for the opening of their defensive coordinator, NFL Network reported.
Patricia, who ordered plays for New England’s offense last season, joins a list of “top contenders” that includes Rex Ryan and Vance Joseph.
Denver’s new head coach, Sean Payton, is in an interview to replace Ejiro Evero, who left to become the DC in Carolina.
Patricia, 48, was a long-time defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots (2012-17), where they won three Super Bowls.
In 2018, he took over as head coach at Detroit, before the Lions fired him with a disastrous 13-29-1 after week 12 of the 2020 season.
Although he was not named the offensive coordinator, Matt Patricia called the plays for the NE offense.
Patricia spent the 2022 season with the Patriots as the de facto offensive coordinator with Joe Judge. Patricia held the title of senior football/offensive line advisor.
The Patriots brought back Bill O’Brien to be the OC going forward. It’s unclear if Patricia has a spot on the Patriots’ staff for 2023.
His contract, still paid for by the Detroit Lions, expired at the end of last season. Patricia was not part of the Patriots’ coaching contingent at the Shrine Bowl.
Former Jets coach Ryan has already had two interviews with Broncos bosses as the potential for a surprise return to the bench grows.
The 60-year-old spoke with team representatives on Saturday, according to ESPNjust three days after he “emerged as a top candidate” for the vacancy on Sean Payton’s staff, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.
Ryan previously stated that he would not leave his role as an analyst for ESPN and Sunday NFL Countdown unless the “perfect situation” arose.
Ryan’s final year as an NFL head coach was the 2016 season, when the Bills fired him with one game remaining, after the team failed to reach the postseason with an overall record of 7-8.
Former Jets & Bills coach Rex Ryan, 60, is close to returning to the NFL with the Denver Broncos.
Ryan hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2016 when Buffalo fired him with one game left.