The New England Patriots found a way to make headlines in Super Bowl LVIII. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, citing sources, reports that the Patriots are close to hiring Tyquan Underwood to their coaching staff.
Underwood is familiar with the Patriots and new head coach Jerod Mayo. The 36-year-old was Mayo’s teammate during his lone season in New England in 2011.After Underwood’s NFL career ended in 2013, he spent three seasons in the Canadian Football League before entering the coaching ranks. Underwood landed his first coaching job as receivers coach at Lafayette College in 2018 and spent the next year as a quality control assistant for the Miami Dolphins.Underwood returned to college football in 2020, spending two seasons as the receivers coach at Rutgers under Greg Schiano.
Underwood most recently served as the passing game coordinator and receivers coach at Pittsburgh.It’s unclear who Underwood will work with with the New England players. Troy Brown coached the position group last season but is yet to be confirmed if he will remain at Mayo. Meanwhile, Ross Douglas, who worked with Brown, left the Patriots midseason to play the same position at Syracuse.Underwood didn’t see much action as a player in his short time with the Patriots, having three receptions for 30 yards in six games.
His tenure ended the day before Super Bowl XLVI and drew the ire of Tom Brady, leading to a bitter feud between Brady and Bill Belichick.Underwood is the latest Patriot player to join Mayo’s squad. Dont’a Hightower will coach New England next season.