Ohio State is finalizing an agreement with Matt Patricia to make him the team’s new defensive coordinator, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Patricia will replace Jim Knowles, who left for Penn State on the heels of the Buckeyes’ national championship triumph.

COLUMBUS — Ohio State made all of its assistant coaching hires official Thursday through an athletic department release; Tyler Bowen was announced as the new offensive line coach and Matt Patricia is the new defensive coordinator,

Ohio State reportedly met with former Patriots DC and Lions head coach Matt Patricia about its defensive coordinator opening on Monday.

Sources: Ohio State is finalizing a deal to hire Matt Patricia as the school’s new defensive coordinator. Patricia was an NFL head coach with the Lions and longtime DC with the New England Patriots. Ohio State will be also be promoting secondary coach Tim Walton to co-defensive coordinator.

Ohio State has found a former NFL head coach to be its next defensive coordinator. According to ESPN, the school is finalizing a deal with former Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia to replace Jim Knowles after its national title-winning season.

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,

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.

Matt Patricia was most recently a senior defensive assistant for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. He has been coaching since 1996 and has primarily worked as a defensive coach. He also worked with offensive lines, and he was the head coach of the Detroit Lions for three seasons.