It worked the last time.
Fresh off of leading the Buckeyes to a national championship last season, Ryan Day is once again reportedly dipping into the NFL’s talent pool to add to Ohio State’s coaching staff.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Day and the Bucks are looking to bring another ex-Patriots assistant to Columbus for the school’s upcoming campaign.
Per Thamel: “Ohio State is expected to add former Miami Dolphins DC and longtime NFL assistant coach Josh Boyer to the coaching staff. He brings a long familiarity with DC Matt Patricia, as Boyer worked for the Patriots from 2006-2018 and won three Super Bowls.”
Sources: Ohio State is expected to add former Miami Dolphins DC and longtime NFL assistant coach Josh Boyer to the coaching staff. He brings a long familiarity with DC Matt Patricia, as Boyer worked for the Patriots from 2006-2018 and won three Super Bowls. pic.twitter.com/leiFsL1saE
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 9, 2025
The Buckeyes ranked No. 1 in the country on the defensive side of the ball in 2024, and Matt Patricia is looking to keep that going this fall as he attempts to put his fingerprints on OSU’s scheme.
“We have great coaches that are here, that were here last year, and I think it’s my job to really kind of make sure I’m adapting and learning to what we did really well last year because, obviously, it was great,” Patricia told reporters (via Eleven Warriors).
“We have great coaches that coach these guys really well and develop these players at a high level. From that standpoint, there’ll be some things that are very similar to what everybody’s used to,” Patricia continued. “I maybe teach a little bit differently… It’s more conceptual and big picture and things like that … to put guys in different roles.”
Boyer last coached for the Miami Dolphins from 2019-2022 after rising through the ranks with the Pats and working his way up from defensive assistant to cornerbacks coach under Bill Belichick.
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Patricia’s time in Foxborough nearly mirrored Boyer’s where he coached linebackers and safeties from 2006-2011 before being elevated to co-defensive coordinator from 2012-2017 and eventually taking the Lions head coaching job a year after that.
Both Belichick disciples collected their share of hardware over the course of their decade-plus runs in New England. Now they’ll be hoping to do the same as a part of one of the most storied programs in college football.
