The Lions have hired New England defensive coordinator Matt Patricia as their new head coach, while the Colts hired offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as their head coach...well, until he stunningly changed his mind. Detroit fans, at least, still have reason for optimism, since Patricia has been part of Super Bowl-winning teams, and will theoretically bring some of that winning with him. Except it hasn't really worked out.
Over the past 16 years, a number of successful Bill Belichick coordinators have been hired away from the Patriots to serve as head coaches elsewhere (college and NFL). The results have been poor.
| PATRIOTS COORDINATORS TO HEAD COACHES | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coach | Job in NE | HC Job | Tenure | Result |
| Eric Mangini | Defensive Coordinator | Jets | Three years | Fired |
| Romeo Crennel | Defensive Coordinator | Cleveland | Four years | Fired |
| Charlie Weis | Offensive Coordinator | Notre Dame | Five years | Fired |
| Josh McDaniels | Offensive Coordinator | Denver | Two years | Fired |
| Bill O'Brien | Offensive Coordinator | Houston | Four years | ? |
O'Brien is still employed in Houston, but it hasn't been a particularly smooth or successful tenure. So no one should be thinking either Patricia or McDaniels (in his second head-coaching go-around, whenever and wherever it eventually comes) are sure things.
In fairness, though, Belichick didn't get things right the first time, either. He was fired as head coach of the Browns before his successful run with the Patriots.
--Andy Richardson