Tag: thomas brown

New England Patriots bring in former Georgia RB

Former Georgia football running back lands with the New England Patriots as their passing game coordinator

The New England Patriots are hiring former Chicago Bears interim head coach and offensive coordinator Thomas Brown to be their offensive passing game coordinator and tight ends coach. Brown, a former Georgia Bulldogs running back, served as Chicago’s interim coach after the Bears fired Matt Eberflus.

The Patriots have a promising young roster, a lot of cap space and NFL draft capital this season, so Brown is landing in a desirable spot. The Bears decided not to retain Brown and multiple other coaches after hiring former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their new head coach.

Brown was a top candidate and interviewed with the Seattle Seahawks for their offensive coordinator role, but the Seahawks ended up hiring New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak for the same role in Seattle.

The Bears initially hired Brown as their passing game coordinator and promoted him to be their offensive coordinator after they fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Now, he will hold a similar role for the Patriots under first-year New England head coach Mike Vrabel.

Brown was the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator in 2023. He was the Panthers’ play-caller for a portion (mostly the second half of the season) of Carolina’s brutal 2-15 season.

Brown also previous served as an offensive assistant with the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay before coming to Carolina and Chicago. He is highly respected around the NFL. Brown rushed for 2,646 yards and 23 touchdowns in his Georgia career from 2004-2007.

New England Patriots hire former Wisconsin football assistant

New England Patriots hire former Wisconsin football assistant

The New England Patriots are hiring former Wisconsin football assistant Thomas Brown as their tight ends coach and pass game coordinator, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero.

Brown previously interviewed for the Patriots’ offensive coordinator position. However, the Patriots, led by new head coach Mike Vrabel, hired longtime assistant Josh McDaniels instead.

Related: Wisconsin legend Jim Leonhard’s 2025 coaching destination revealed

According to Pelissero, Brown ‘impressed Mike Vrabel in [the offensive coordinator] interview,’ leading to this hire.

Brown held a similar title with the Chicago Bears entering the 2024 season. He was promoted twice during the year: first to interim offensive coordinator after Shane Waldron’s firing, and then to interim head coach after Matt Eberflus was let go.

The Bears went 1-4 in the final five games with him at the helm. Brown interviewed for their head coach vacancy after the season, though the team elected to hire Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson instead.

Brown spend the 2014 season as Wisconsin’s running backs coach, guiding program legend Melvin Gordon to an all-time season (343 carries, 2,587 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns). He left the program after that year for the same position at Georgia, where he played running back from 2004-07.

The well-traveled assistant coach went on to spend time at Miami (OC, 2016-18) and South Carolina (RBs, 2019) at the college level, then with the Los Angeles Rams (RBs, 2020-21, then TEs in 2022) and the Carolina Panthers (OC, 2023) in the NFL.

He is one of several former Wisconsin assistants making moves at the NFL level. Former Badgers quarterback Scott Tolzien just left the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff, while Jim Leonhard signed on with Denver for another season.

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Former Panthers coach to be hired by Patriots

Former Panthers OC Thomas Brown is joining his third team in as many years.

Former Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will be wearing yet another hat in 2025.

According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the New England Patriots will be hiring the 38-year-old as their tight ends coach/passing game coordinator. The Patriots, who hired Mike Vrabel as their new head coach earlier this month, will be the third stop in as many years for Brown.

Brown’s first prominent NFL gig came with the Panthers in 2023, when he was brought on as the offensive coordinator under then-head coach Frank Reich. Carolina parted ways with Brown following the campaign, one in which Reich (and a few other members of his offensive staff) lasted just 11 games.

He would then move on to the Chicago Bears for the 2024 season, beginning as their passing game coordinator. He’d later be promoted to interim offensive coordinator after the firing of Shane Waldron, and then to interim head coach after the firing of Matt Eberflus.

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Former interim head coach joining Patriots’ growing coaching staff

Thomas Brown is reportedly joining the Patriots as the new tight ends coach/pass game coordinator

The New England Patriots are hiring former Chicago Bears interim head coach and offensive coordinator Thomas Brown to be their tight ends coach and pass game coordinator, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.

Brown was interviewed by the Patriots earlier this month for their offensive coordinator position, but Josh McDaniels ultimately won the job. However, that still didn’t stop the team from pursuing Brown for a coaching job.

Brown was the pass game coordinator for the Chicago Bears to begin the 2024 season. He was promoted to offensive coordinator after Shane Waldron was fired. He then received another promotion after Matt Eberflus was fired to become the interim head coach.

This is yet another significant offensive hiring for a Patriots team hoping to improve in that area. They also reportedly added former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone to their staff as well.

It’s clear that New England wants to establish a solid group of offensive coaches, and things appear to be coming together exceptionally well.

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Patriots could circle back to OC candidate for another job

The Patriots reportedly still have Thomas Brown on their radar for an assistant job

The New England Patriots could circle back to interim Chicago Bears head coach Thomas Brown for an offensive role on the coaching staff, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

Brown already interviewed for the offensive coordinator job in New England that ultimately went to Josh McDaniels. But the team could find a different role for him on the staff. Reiss suggested a possible role as a passing game coordinator, which is the same role he initially served in for the Bears.

Bringing Brown on board would further enhance the offensive staff. Reiss wrote:

The Patriots had interviewed interim Chicago Bears head coach Thomas Brown for their offensive coordinator job that ultimately went to McDaniels, but Brown is still in talks with the team to potentially join the staff in a different role, according to league sources.

Brown opened last season as the Bears’ passing game coordinator, and the Patriots could potentially look towards that type of role for him, in addition to working with a specific position group.

Brown joining the Patriots as a passing game coordinator would allow him to work with his second top-three quarterback pick from the 2024 NFL draft. He worked with the No. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams, with the Bears, and if he joins the Patriots, he’d be working with Drake Maye.

Adding a talented coach like Brown to the mix is proof that the Patriots are committed to rebuilding and improving their passing game and offensive staff as a whole.

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Report: Former Wisconsin assistant ‘in talks’ with NFL team for next coaching role

Report: Former Wisconsin assistant ‘in talks’ for next coaching role

ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported on Sunday that former Wisconsin assistant Thomas Brown remains ‘in talks’ to potentially join the Patriots coaching staff.

Brown had recently interviewed for the team’s offensive coordinator position under new head coach Mike Vrabel. While the team hired Josh McDaniels, it still appears interested in adding Brown to its staff.

Related: Former Wisconsin quarterback ‘expected to move on’ from Dallas Cowboys coaching staff

“Brown opened last season as the Bears’ passing game coordinator, and the Patriots could potentially look towards that type of role for him, in addition to working with a specific position group,” Reiss wrote.

Brown has led coaching headlines over the last few months. The former Wisconsin running backs coach (2014) began the 2024 season as the Bears’ passing game coordinator. He was promoted to offensive coordinator on Nov. 12 after Shane Waldron’s firing, then soon received another promotion to interim head coach on Nov. 29 after the team dismissed Matt Eberflus.

The Bears went 1-4 to close the season under his watch — that win coming in Week 18 against the Green Bay Packers. The team finished the season 5-12 and in last place in the NFC North.

The longtime assistant coach interviewed for the Bears head coaching vacancy before Ben Johnson’s hiring. He then had the mentioned interview for the Patriots’ OC job, which went to McDaniels.

Reiss’ reporting indicates that Brown could still hold a prominent role on the Patriots coaching staff, if the move is finalized.

Brown coached Wisconsin’s running backs in 2014 under then-head coach Gary Andersen. He oversaw a record-breaking season from star Melvin Gordon: 343 carries, 2,587 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns. Many statistics even point to Gordon’s 2014 campaign being better than Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty’s Heisman-finalist 2024 season.

Brown left the Badgers in 2015 to coach running backs at Georgia. He was then the offensive coordinator at Miami from 2016-18, running backs coach at South Carolina in 2019, running backs coach for the Los Angeles Rams from 2020-21, tight ends coach for the Rams in 2022 and offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2023.

He is one of several former Wisconsin coaches in the headlines. Scott Tolzien just left the Dallas Cowboys‘ staff, while we all await what’s next for program legend Jim Leonhard.

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Chicago Bears moving on from former Georgia RB

Former Georgia football running back is not being retained after the Chicago Bears’ latest coaching change

The Chicago Bears are moving on from their former interim coach Thomas Brown. The Bears elected to not retain Brown and several other coaches after hiring former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their new  coach.

As Johnson builds his staff in Chicago, the offensive coordinator role should be an attractive job opening.

Brown has interviewed with the Seattle Seahawks for their offensive coordinator role. Brown, a former Georgia Bulldogs running back, served as Chicago’s interim coach after the Bears fired Matt Eberflus. Brown went 1-4.

As Brown seeks a new NFL coaching role, the Seahawks have a talented offense and would be a great landing place for Brown.

The Bears initially hired Brown as their passing game coordinator and promoted him to be their offensive coordinator after they fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. The Bears are coming off a disappointing offensive season despite having plenty of talent around No. 1 2024 NFL draft pick Caleb Williams.

Brown served as the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator in 2023. He was the Panthers’ play-caller for a portion (primarily the second half of the season) of Carolina’s brutal 2-15 season.

Brown served as an offensive assistant with the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay before coming to Carolina and Chicago. He is highly respected in NFL circles. Brown rushed for 2,646 yards and 23 touchdowns in his Georgia career from 2004-2007.

Bears officially part ways with Thomas Brown, Seahawks eying him for OC

Bears officially part ways with Thomas Brown, Seahawks eying him for OC

The Chicago Bears have their next head coach, as they hired away the top candidate this cycle: Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. For the last two years, Johnson has been the top name for potential head coaches, and was even one some 12’s wanted before the team hired Mike Macdonald from the Ravens. Now, Johnson has his first shot as a head coach and it will be with his former division rival.

With Johnson’s hiring, he has decided to remake the coaching staff in his own image. Which means the current men at their positions are now looking for new jobs, including former interim head coach and offensive coordinator Thomas Brown.

Of course, with Brown officially being free of any contractual obligations elsewhere in this league, he is now able to sign with any team that may be interested in his services… such as the Seattle Seahawks.

Thomas Brown was one of the Seahawks’ initial two candidates interviewed this offseason, along with Lions o-line coach Hank Fraley, for their open offensive coordinator position. Brown was also on the same Georgia Bulldogs staff with Mike Macdonald back in 2011, so there is familiarity between the two men.

However, as of now, Brown has not received a second interview with the Seahawks. So far, only Grant Udinski, Klint Kubiak and the aforementioned Hank Fraley have received second interviews… all of which were in-person.

Still, there’s no saying a second one won’t happen. Perhaps with Brown’s freedom from Chicago, it could make it easier for Seattle to meet with him and potentially work out a deal. As always, we at Seahawks Wire will be on top of all offensive coordinator news.

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Jets, Aaron Glenn expected to target handful of former Panthers coaches for new staff

A few familiar faces might be jetting over to New York with Aaron Glenn.

A handful of former Carolina Panthers coaches could be jetting over to “The “Big Apple” with Aaron Glenn.

Glenn, who has served as the Detroit Lions defensive coordinator since 2021, is reportedly set to be hired as the new head coach of the New York Jets. And he, according to numerous reporters, is expected to target a few familiar names for his new staff—including Steve Wilks, Thomas Brown and Josh McCown.

Wilks was linked to Glenn and the Jets on Tuesday by SNY’s Connor Hughes. The Charlotte, N.C. native spent a total of seven years on Carolina’s sidelines—where he worked as a defensive backs coach (2012 to 2016), assistant head coach (2015 to 2016), defensive coordinator (2017) and defensive passing game coordinator/secondary coach/interim head coach (2022).

Brown spent one season with the Panthers as their offensive coordinator in 2023. He moved on to the Chicago Bears for 2024—assuming the roles of passing game coordinator, interim offensive coordinator and interim head coach.

McCown, like Brown, didn’t last in Carolina beyond the 2023 campaign. He served as the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterbacks coach this past season.

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Former Wisconsin football assistant interviews for Patriots’ offensive coordinator vacancy

Former Wisconsin football assistant interviews for Patriots’ offensive coordinator vacancy

The New England Patriots interviewed former Wisconsin football assistant Thomas Brown for their vacant offensive coordinator position last Tuesday.

The Patriots are working to build their support staff under new coach Mike Vrabel, who was Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell’s college teammate and roommate at Ohio State.

Brown spent the 2024 season as the Chicago Bears’ pass game coordinator. His duties increased in Week 10 when he was promoted to offensive coordinator after Shane Waldron’s firing. He was promoted to interim head coach in Week 14 after Matt Eberflus was relieved of his duties. Brown led the Bears to a 1-4 record to close the season.

Brown was Wisconsin’s running backs coach in 2014 under coach Gary Andersen. The well-traveled assistant coached running backs at the college level at Chattanooga (2012), Marshall (2013), Wisconsin (2014), Georgia (2015), Miami (OC, 2016-18) and South Carolina (2019). He jumped to the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams (2020-21), before spending 2022 as the Rams’ tight ends coach and 2023 as the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator.

The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Brown’s interview with the Patriots. The team also reportedly requested to interview Chargers pass game coordinator Marcus Brady.

Brown is looking for a new destination for the 2025 season after the Bears hired Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their new coach on Monday. Johnson has not begun to fill out his coaching staff.

The former Badger assistant interviewed for the position earlier this month. He also reportedly interviewed for the Seattle Seahawks’ OC opening.

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