FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Today, the New England Patriots announced that Head Coach Mike Vrabel has completed his coaching staff for the 2025 season. Earlier this month, the New England Patriots announced the addition of Josh McDaniels (offensive coordinator), Terrell Williams (defensive coordinator) and the return of Jeremy Springer (special teams coordinator). The 2025 Patriots coaching staff is listed below:
Josh McDaniels: Offensive Coordinator
Thomas Brown: Tight Ends/Passing Game Coordinator
Doug Marrone: Offensive Line
Jason Houghtaling: Assistant Offensive Line
Robert Kugler: Assistant Offensive Line
Todd Downing: Wide Receivers
Tony Dews: Running Backs
Ashton Grant: Quarterbacks
Riley Larkin: Offensive Assistant
Chuckie Keeton: Offensive Assistant
Jeremy Springer: Special Teams Coordinator
Tom Quinn: Assistant Special Teams
Terrell Williams: Defensive Coordinator
Zak Kuhr: Inside Linebackers
Scott Booker: Safeties
Justin Hamilton: Cornerbacks
Clint McMillan: Defensive Line
Mike Smith: Outside Linebackers
Vinny DePalma: Defensive Assistant
Kevin Richardson: Defensive Assistant
Milton Patterson: Defensive Assistant
Ben McAdoo: Senior Defensive Assistant
Mike Vrabel: Head Coach
John Streicher: Vice President of Football Operations and Strategy
Frank Piraino: Director of Sports Performance
Deron Mayo: Strength and Conditioning
Brian McDonough: Assistant Strength and Conditioning
"The goal in filling out the 2025 Patriots coaching staff was to identify loyal, trustworthy coaches who are diverse in background, ideas, experiences and systems," said Head Coach Mike Vrabel. "We will be aligned in our vision to teach and develop our players with creativity, consistency and an attention to detail with the major goal of developing relationships that stretch beyond the field and meeting rooms.
"We are going to build a program that players, coaches and staff want to be a part of, protect and be proud of. There are so many great people in this building who help our players and the coaching staff on a daily basis. I am excited to work side by side with them to build this program.
"I want to thank Nancy Meier, Bobby Brown, Bri Avedisian, the video team, equipment team, the HR team and so many others for making the transition seamless for the travel and onboarding of this group."
A brief description of each of the new assistant coaches being announced today is listed below (in alphabetical order):
SCOTT BOOKER
Scott Booker joins the Patriots in 2025 as safeties coach following a season with the Buffalo Bills where he served as nickel coach/senior defensive assistant. Prior to Buffalo, Booker spent six seasons at the Tennessee Titans where he was a defensive assistant from 2018-19 before being promoted to safeties coach from 2020-23. Before working in the NFL, Booker had 15 years of experience at the college level working at Kent State (2003-08), Western Kentucky (2009), Notre Dame (2010-16) and Nebraska (2017). Booker is a native of Pittsburgh, Pa., and attended Kent State where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and master's in sports studies.
THOMAS BROWN
Thomas Brown joins the Patriots in 2025 as tight ends/passing game coordinator. Last year, Brown started the season as the passing game coordinator for the Chicago Bears prior to being promoted to offensive coordinator midseason and then to interim head coach for the final six weeks of the season. In 2023, Brown spent a season as the Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator following three seasons at the Los Angeles Rams (2020-22). He spent nine seasons coaching in the college ranks at Georgia (2011, 2015), Chattanooga (2012), Marshall (2013), Wisconsin (2014), Miami (2016-18) and South Carolina (2019). Brown began coaching after playing three seasons in the NFL; including one season for the Atlanta Falcons (2008) and two seasons for the Cleveland Browns (2009-10). Brown attended the University of Georgia where he played running back from 2004-07.
TONY DEWS
Tony Dews joins the Patriots in 2025 as running backs coach after holding the same position at the New York Jets for the 2024 season. Prior to New York, Dews spent six seasons at the Tennessee Titans (2018-23) coaching the running backs (2018-22) before transitioning to tight ends coach for 2023. Dews has coached every offensive and defensive position besides quarterback throughout his career. He coached in the college ranks at Millersville (1998), West Virginia (1999-01, 2007, 2017), California (PA) (2002), Holy Cross (2003), Central Michigan (2004-05), UNLV (2006), Michigan (2008-10), Pittsburgh (2011), and Arizona (2012-16). Dews graduated from Liberty where he played four seasons as a tight end. He later earned a master's degree in 2001 from West Virginia.
TODD DOWNING
Todd Downing joins the Patriots as wide receivers coach in 2025 following two seasons at the New York Jets (2023-24) as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. Prior to New York, he spent four seasons at the Tennessee Titans (2019-22) with his last two seasons as offensive coordinator. Downing has had experience across multiple NFL teams including the Minnesota Vikings (2001-05, 2018), St. Louis Rams (2006-08), Detroit Lions (2009-13), Buffalo Bills (2014) and Oakland Raiders (2015-17). He started his coaching career as an assistant freshmen coach at Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota (1999-2000). A native of Eden, Minn., Downing attended the University of Minnesota where he played college football before playing three seasons at the semi-pro level for the Minnesota Maulers.
ASHTON GRANT
Ashton Grant joins New England as quarterbacks coach in 2025 following five seasons at the Cleveland Browns. Prior to that, he was a quality control coach at the College of Holy Cross (2019-20). A native of Manchester, Conn., he attended Assumption College where he played wide receiver and earned a bachelor's degree in sociology in 2019.
JUSTIN HAMILTON
Justin Hamilton joins the Patriots in 2025 as cornerbacks coach. He comes to New England after serving one season at the Indianapolis Colts as assistant defensive backs coach. In 2023, he worked with Vrabel at Tennessee as a defensive quality control coach. Prior to making the jump to the NFL, Hamilton spent time coaching at the college level; Virginia-Wise (2010-13), Virginia Military Institute (2014-17) and Virginia Tech (2018-21). Hamilton was a four-year letterman for Virginia Tech (2002-05) where he played as a running back, wide receiver and defensive back. A native of Clintwood, Va., Hamilton graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor's degree in consumer studies.
JASON HOUGHTALING
Jason Houghtaling joins the Patriots in 2025 as assistant offensive line coach after holding the same position at the Chicago Bears for the 2024 season. Prior to that, he spent three seasons at the Tennessee Titans (2021-23). Houghtaling coached 15 years in the college and high school ranks, coaching at Wagner (2006-09, 2012, 2014-19), Troy HS (2010), Williams (2011), Cornell (2013) and Colgate (2020). Most notably, he was the head coach of Wagner from 2015-19 and the head coach of Troy HS in 2010. A native of Windsor, N.Y., Houghtaling attended Lafayette College and the University of Binghamton.
CHUCKIE KEETON
Chuckie Keeton joins New England in 2025 as an offensive assistant. He was hired as quarterbacks coach for Montana State before accepting a position with the Seattle Seahawks in 2024. In 2023, he was an offensive analyst at Marshall University. Prior to Marshall, Keeton coached running backs at Utah State (2021-22) and was a graduate assistant at Texas Tech (2019-20). In his first stint at Utah State in 2018, he was a quality control coach. He started his coaching career in the same position at Oregon State for the 2016-17 seasons. A native of Houston, Texas, Keeton attended Utah State from 2011-15 where he played quarterback. He graduated with a degree in business administration.
ZAK KUHR
Zak Kuhr joins New England as inside linebackers coach in 2025 following a season at the New York Giants as a defensive assistant. Prior to that, he spent four seasons at the Tennessee Titans, one season as a quality control coach (2020) and three seasons as inside linebackers assistant (2021-23). Before transitioning to the NFL, Kuhr worked in the college ranks for 11 seasons spending time at Edward Waters College (2009-10), Ohio State (2011-12), Old Dominion (2013), James Madison (2014-15), Rutgers (2016), Texas State (2017-18) and Texas (2019). A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Kuhr attended the University of Florida where he earned a bachelor's degree in sports management in 2013.
RILEY LARKIN
Riley Larkin joins the Patriots in 2025 as an offensive assistant after spending the 2024 season as assistant quarterbacks coach at Ohio State University. Prior to Ohio State, Larkin was an offensive analyst at Middle Tennessee State in 2022, his first college coaching position. He spent three years coaching quarterbacks at the high school level, first at McLean High School (Va.) from 2019-20 and then at Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, Tenn. In 2021. From 2015-18, Larkin played quarterback at John Carroll University. He was a member of the 2016 team that won a conference championship and reached the national semi-finals. Larkin is a native of Kent, Ohio and earned his bachelor's degree in adolescent young adult education and social studies from John Carroll in 2019.
DOUG MARRONE
Doug Marrone joins the Patriots as offensive line coach in 2025 following one season as senior analyst for football strategy/research at Boston College. Prior to that, he coached the offensive line for the New Orleans Saints (2022-23) and the University of Alabama (2021). From 2017-20, Marrone was the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He spent a total of six seasons with the team, coaching the offensive line from 2015-16 as well as holding the assistant head coach role. In 2016, he was named interim head coach before taking on the head coaching role in 2017. Marrone joined Jacksonville from the Buffalo Bills where he was head coach for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Prior to that, he served as the head coach for Syracuse from 2009-12. Marrone held numerous roles on the offense throughout the NFL and college levels, including Cortland State (1992), Coast Guard (1993), Northeastern (1994), Georgia Tech (1996-99), Georgia (2000), Tennessee (2001), the New York Jets (2002-05) and the New Orleans Saints (2006-08). Prior to coaching, Marrone played offensive tackle in the NFL and NFL Europe, spending time with the Los Angeles Raiders (1986), Miami Dolphins (1987), Dallas Cowboys (1989), New Orleans Saints (1989), Minnesota Vikings (1990), Pittsburgh Steelers (1991) and the London Monarchs (1991-92). A native of the Bronx, N.Y., Marrone played college football at Syracuse University from 1983-85.
CLINT MCMILLAN
Clinton McMillan joins the Patriots in 2025 as defensive line coach. He comes to New England after serving four seasons in various defensive roles at the Tennessee Titans. Prior to Tennessee, McMillan held coaching roles at Florida State (2020), University of Tennessee-Martin (2017-19), Ohio Dominican (2017), Marshall (2014-16) and Weber State (2012-14). A native of Oviedo, Fla., McMillan earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Florida in 2007 and a master's degree in education from Marshall University in 2016. He played four seasons at defensive tackle for the Gators, winning a national championship in 2006.
MILTON PATTERSON
Milton Patterson joins the Patriots in 2025 as a defensive assistant following five seasons at Florida A&M as the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach. Prior to Florida A&M, Patterson was the defensive coordinator at Fayetteville State from 2020-21. From 2017-20, he held multiple positions at Clark-Atlanta University. Patterson was the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Alabama State in 2017, following a stint at Mississippi Valley State where he coached on defense and was the director of sports performance. He began his coaching career at Jackson State in 2012 where he spent three seasons as a defensive analyst and assistant strength and conditioning coach. A native of Jacksonville, Ark., Patterson graduated from Jackson State with a degree in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy.
FRANK PIRAINO
Frank Piraino joins the Patriots in 2025 as director of sports performance. Piraino joined New England from the New York Giants where he served as the director of strength and conditioning. Prior to his time in New York, Piraino spent five seasons (2019-23) at the Tennessee Titans as director of strength and conditioning and six seasons (2013-18) as head strength and conditioning coach for football at Boston College. He has a decorative career working in college ranks, spending time at Temple (2011-12), Marshall (2010), Florida (2005-09), Notre Dame (2004) and Michigan State (2003-04). He began his career working as an assistant coach at Walsh Jesuit High School in Ohio. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Piraino earned a bachelor's degree in sports and exercise science at the University of Akron and later earned an MBA in sports administration from Michigan State.
KEVIN RICHARDSON
Kevin Richardson joins the Patriots in 2025 as a defensive assistant following two seasons at Illinois as assistant defensive backs coach. Prior to Illinois, Richardson coached defensive backs at Long Island University in 2022. In 2021, he was a defensive graduate assistant in his first stint at Illinois, following a season coaching defensive backs at Northeastern State in 2020. Richardson began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at MidAmerica Nazarene in 2019. A native of Jacksonville, Ark., Richardson graduated from Arkansas with a degree in sociology.
MIKE SMITH
Mike Smith joins New England in 2025 as outside linebackers coach. His most recent stint in the NFL was as the outside linebackers coach and pass rush specialist at the Minnesota Vikings (2022-23). Prior to the Vikings, Smith coached outside linebackers at the Green Bay Packers (2019-20). He spent the 2018 season in the same role at the Kansas City Chiefs after being promoted from assistant defensive line coach, a position he held from 2016-17. Smith coached at his alma mater, Texas Tech, from 2013-15 following three seasons at the New York Jets from 2010-12. Smith began his coaching career in 2009 coaching the linebackers at Hawaii. A native of Lubbock, Texas, Smith attended Texas Tech where he earned a degree in communications studies.
JOHN STREICHER
John "Stretch" Streicher joins the Patriots in 2025 as vice president of football operations and strategy. Streicher came to the Patriots after spending a year working under Sean McVay at the Los Angeles Rams as game management coordinator. Prior to his year at the Rams, Streicher spent six seasons at the Tennessee Titans in various roles from 2018-23. He spent two years as director of football operations (2016-17) at Texas State and two seasons (2014-15) at James Madison. An alumnus of Ohio State, Streicher started his career working for Ohio State football team. He is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio.
