Football <\/p>\n
A former Detroit Lions<\/a> coach has found a new home for the 2025 football season.\u00a0<\/p>\n Matt Patricia, who was the Lions<\/a>\u2019 head coach from 2018-20, is finalizing a deal to join the Ohio State coaching staff as defensive coordinator under head coach Ryan Day, according to reports.\u00a0<\/p>\n Day<\/a> and the Buckeyes are coming off a national title and have lost both coordinators, as offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has returned to the NFL and Jim Knowles left for Penn State.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sources: Ohio State is finalizing a deal to hire Matt Patricia as the school\u2019s new defensive coordinator. Patricia was an NFL head coach with the Lions and longtime DC with the New England Patriots. pic.twitter.com\/NdCTsCMVBz<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 12, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n Patricia<\/a> becomes the latest former NFL coach to take a job at the collegiate level, as Bill Belichick is the head coach at North Carolina and Ron Rivera took an analyst job at California.\u00a0<\/p>\n In parts of three seasons with the Lions, Patricia amassed a 13-29-1 record. He was fired following the team\u2019s Thanksgiving loss to the Houston Texans in 2020 and was replaced in 2021 by Dan Campbell. <\/p>\n Under Campbell, the Lions<\/a> have become one of the league\u2019s best teams over the last four seasons. Detroit is 39-28-1 under Campbell in his tenure. <\/p>\n\n