At least one Patriots coordinator is staying put.
Patriots special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer will return for the 2025 season under new coach Mike Vrabel, according to an NFL Network report Monday.
Springer, hired last year under former head coach Jerod Mayo, revived a special teams group that ranked bottom-5 by the opponent-and-situation-adjusted metric DVOA the previous two seasons. Last year, the Patriots finished 13th by special teams DVOA and No. 2 by Pro Football Focus grades. Under Springer’s leadership, core special teamer Brenden Schooler was named an All-Pro and a Pro Bowler.
To date, Springer is the only coordinator expected to be a holdover in New England. Former defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington reportedly interviewed for the same job with the Bengals last week, while offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt is one of two lead offensive assistants who has not moved on, according to reports. The other is quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney.
Vrabel previously overlapped with Springer’s assistant, Tom Quinn, during his six-year run as the Titans’ head coach. Quinn is a longtime special teams coach who also mentored Springer earlier in his career. Before arriving in Foxboro, the 35-year-old had just two seasons of NFL experience with the Rams and prior coordinator stints at the University of Arizona and Marshall.
Asked about his coaching philosophy, Springer said last offseason: “I care about people. I think it’s all about the people. I love working with people. I want to show them that I love them. I think if you show people that you love them and care about them, you serve them, and you put them first, that it doesn’t matter how old you are.”
Last season, the Patriots’ special teams were well-rounded. Punt returner Marcus Jones finished third in the NFL in return yards, while punter Bryce Baringer dropped nearly half his kicks inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and averaged 49.8 yards per boot. The Pats executed their first successful fake punt in seven years during a mid-December loss at Buffalo, and kicker Joey Slye went 26-of-33 on field goals, including a franchise record 63-yarder in Week 4.