As time together nears an end, Patriots coaches reflect on enduring bond

ST. PAUL, Minn. — For the Patriots’ coaching staff, this week feels a little like the last few days before the end of school.

Sure, no one will state the obvious — Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia are about to graduate from Belichick University. But it’s clear that with each passing day, the end of an era is drawing closer.


In New England, the core of the coaching staff (the coordinators and head coach) have been in place since 2012, the longest current stretch in the NFL. But going even deeper, you have offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia and running backs coach Ivan Fears, both of whom pre-date head coach Bill Belichick when it comes to seniority in New England. Even the young guys like wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea and linebackers coach Brian Flores have been around longer than most positional coaches when stacked against the rest of the league.

Between their extended time together, as well as the fact that the Patriots have one of the smallest coaching staffs in the league, they say it’s all ultimately led to a close and enduring bond, one that will endure — regardless of what happens in the offseason.

“We’re a tight-knit group. I think continuity is big in this league and it’s big on our staff. We’ve obviously built some great relationships, as a staff, as a group, that has helped us get to this point where we’re at. We have to all kind of work together,” said Flores. “it’s gotten to the point where we know what each other are thinking.

“It doesn’t always work — we have disagreements as a group. Like any organization,” he added. “(But) we’re just honest and open, and we can be that way because we’ve known each other for so long. There’s no beating around the bush on any subject.”

Scarnecchia and Fears identified two overriding characteristics inherent in each one of New England’s assistant coaches: focus, and a lack of ego.

“I’ve always thought the guys on this staff are the most tunnel-vision guys I know. All of them,” Fears said. “We have one thing on our mind, and that’s finding a way to win. Everybody kind of stays in that. So what happens is that we’re all in there running together, and it’s fun to have a partner. I know where he’s going and what he’s trying to do. He has the same problem I have in that we’re all trying to look this way. We don’t see anything but that.

“We’ve become pretty close. We bond. We bond pretty good. You have to knock heads, because that’s the only way you make progress. But fortunately for us, Bill has been able to pull in a very select group of guys who have that little tunnel-vision thing.”

“It is the most ego-less group of guys I’ve ever been around,” Scarnecchia said of the current staff. “I think everybody is very sensitive to others. I can’t even begin to tell you if there’s every been a conflict anywhere. All the assistants are within 40 feet of one another cubicles. It’s just amazing. It works. It works for us. Josh is a great, great guy to work with on offense. I’m sure Matt is the same way on defense. I really enjoy working with these guys a lot a lot. Or else I wouldn’t be around here. I really mean that. I just enjoy being with them every day.”

Joe Judge is in his third year as special teams coach after three seasons as the assistant, and he says it’s not overstating it to say that it’s become a family, complete with the occasional disagreement.

“But at the end of the day, you’ll have each other’s back,” he said. “There’s not a guy in the building that you don’t respect. Even at times when you might be butting heads, you’re respecting everything he does to prepare his guys and prepare your team and you know when you go on Sunday, you know that guy is giving you a chance to be successful because of how he’s worked to get his guys ready to go.”

With McDaniels and Patricia expected to move on after the Super Bowl, there’s the prospect of change. But that’s a worry for another day, according to Fears.

“Can’t worry about that. We have one thing on our mind right now,” he said. “The only thing on our mind. The only thing that matters is what’s coming up. What’s coming up tomorrow. One day at a time, until we get to game day. Who gives a (expletive)? We’re playing for the Super Bowl. And that’s all that matters.”

“We’re all in it together,” shrugged Flores when asked for the secret to their success. “Just trying to do what’s best of the team. That’s kind of what we try to do as a staff. That’s what I try to do individually and with my group. And hopefully we can put it together one more time Sunday night.”