Ohio State adding longtime NFL coach Josh Boyer to coaching staff

Ohio State is set to hire former Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Josh Boyer to its coaching staff as an analyst, On3’s Pete Nakos has learned. He previously worked with Buckeyes DC Matt Patricia on the New England Patriots staff.

Boyer most recently worked for the Dolphins from 2019-22. He started out as the defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach before moving up to defensive coordinator from 2020-22. That came after a long run with the Patriots from 2006-18, working his way up from defensive assistant to cornerbacks coach.

Boyer’s run with the Patriots came at the same time Patricia worked for the franchise as linebackers coach and safeties coach from 2006-11. He then became defensive coordinator from 2012-17 before taking over as the Detroit Lions’ head coach from 2018-20. Boyer and Patricia both won three Super Bowls as assistants under Bill Belichick, who’s now the head coach at North Carolina.

Josh Boyer – an Ohio native – played college football at Muskingum College before starting his coaching career at King’s College in Pennsylvania as a graduate assistant. He then took the same role at Dayton in 2001 and at Kent State from 2002-23. Following stints at Bryant and South Dakota School of Mines, he joined the Patriots in 2006.

Matt Patricia planning to ‘adapt’ Buckeyes defense

Patricia is preparing for his first season as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator, replacing Jim Knowles, who left for Penn State after last year’s national championship. He inherits a unit that has a group of returners headlined by safety Caleb Downs. The defensive line is going to take on a new look, though, as the unit saw major turnover.

Patricia said he plans to adapt what Ohio State did last year when the program ranked No. 1 in the country in total defense as he puts his personal touch on the scheme. That’s where staff members who stayed from last year can provide some familiarity, considering the unit played a key role in winning Ryan Day’s first national championship as a head coach.

“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 said. “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. I maybe teach a little bit differently… It’s more conceptual and big picture and things like that, which gives us a little bit more position-flex and multiplicity, from that standpoint, to put guys in different roles.”