Thomas Brown Joins Patriots as Offensive Passing Game Coordinator

FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots have hired Thomas Brown as their offensive passing game coordinator and tight ends coach, according to multiple reports. Brown, 38, joins the Patriots after a tumultuous 2024 season with the Chicago Bears, where he served in three different roles, including interim head coach.

Brown was elevated to interim head coach in late November after Matt Eberflus was fired. Under his leadership, the Bears went 1-4, with their sole victory coming in Week 18 against the Green Bay Packers. Prior to his interim role, Brown was the Bears’ passing game coordinator and later offensive coordinator following Shane Waldron‘s dismissal.

Before his stint in Chicago, Brown was the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2023. Both the Panthers and Patriots struggled offensively that year, tying for last in the NFL with an average of 13.9 points per game.

Brown’s NFL coaching career began with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020, where he served as running backs coach and later as assistant head coach. He was part of the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI-winning staff in 2021. His coaching journey also includes nearly a decade at the collegiate level, with stops at Georgia, Chattanooga, Marshall, Wisconsin, Miami, and South Carolina.

In addition to Brown, the Patriots are reportedly hiring Jason Houghtaling as an assistant coach. Houghtaling, who worked with Brown in Chicago as the assistant offensive line coach, previously served under Mike Vrabel in Tennessee.

The Patriots have finalized their coordinator positions for the 2025 season, with Josh McDaniels returning as offensive coordinator, Terrell Williams as defensive coordinator, and Jeremy Springer as special teams coordinator. Other reported additions to the staff include Tony Dews, Riley Larkin, Zak Kuhr, Clinton McMillan, and Kevin Richardson, though these hires have not been officially confirmed by the team.

Brown’s hiring marks another step in the Patriots’ efforts to revamp their coaching staff under head coach Mike Vrabel, who took over the team earlier this year.