Ohio State hired NFL coach Matt Patricia as its new defensive coordinator following reports that the two sides were nearing a deal, the university announced Thursday as part of multiple staff changes.

National champion Ohio State made the appointments of defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline official on Thursday.

Matt Patricia became a household name with the Patriots, but his journey to Ohio State football started in New York — where he went from an engineer to a Syracuse graduate assistant.

In the weeks immediately after defeating Notre Dame and winning the 2024 College Football Playoff championship, Ohio State underwent significant, sweeping changes to its coaching staff, with Chip Kelly leaving to be the Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles taking the same role at Penn State,

Week 1 isn’t going to be the best version of the 2025 defense. And in the expanded College Football Playoff era, it doesn’t need to be.

Former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman was excited for Matt Patricia to become the next defensive coordinator for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He posted a congratulatory message on his Instagram story after hearing the news. “Huge get for the program. Congrats Matty P,” Edelman posted.

The Ohio State football program has found its new defensive coordinator in an unusual place. According to multiple reports out of Columbus, the Buckeyes are bringing in former Lions head coach Matt Patricia to run their defense.

Ohio State is finalizing a deal to hire former NFL coach Matt Patricia as its new defensive coordinator, ESPN reports. The Buckeyes had been searching for a replacement after Jim Knowles departed for the same role at Penn State.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have their new defensive coordinator. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the reigning national champions were finalizing a deal to make former New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia their new defensive play-caller.

Ohio State officially announced the hirings of Matt Patricia as defensive coordinator and Brian Hartline as offensive coordinator in staff retooling.

With former Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly heading back to the NFL this offseason, the Buckeyes decided to promote wide receivers coach and a former NFL wide receiver in his own right in Brian Hartline to the role of offensive coordinator.