Patriots lose yet another coach as offensive mind bolts for Arizona
By Jerry Trotta
Patriots QB coach Jedd Fisch has left the organization for a head coaching position in the college ranks.
The New England Patriots, perhaps more than any other franchise in the NFL, are susceptible to losing coaching staff members for significant promotions elsewhere. Why else do you think they are always hiring new assistants every offseason?
Just in the last two years, fans have watched the likes of defensive mastermind Brian Flores and special teams savant Joe Judge earn head coaching jobs with the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants, respectively.
Unfortunately for the Patriots, they will have to replace yet another assistant once the offseason rolls around, as quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch has reportedly been hired as the new head coach of the Arizona Wildcats football program.
Patriots’ QB coach Jedd Fisch is being named the new head coach at the University of Arizona, per @FieldYates and me. Arizona expected to announce hire today.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 23, 2020
Fisch now will replace recently fired HC Kevin Sumlin while the Patriots lose another assistant.
Fisch wasn’t exactly a household name in Foxborough, as he joined the Patriots this season after spending two seasons with the Rams as a senior offensive assistant. However, he is highly regarded throughout the NFL and the college ranks.
After all, he served as UCLA’s offensive coordinator in 2017 — as well as their interim coach for two games — and was lauded for the work he did with quarterback Josh Rosen, who completed 62.6% of his passes for 3,756 yards and 26 touchdowns to 10 interceptions under his tutelage, and helped him get drafted No. 10 overall in the 2018 Draft.
The 44-year-old even served as an offensive coordinator at the professional level with the Jaguars for two seasons back in 2013 and 2014. Jacksonville didn’t post great numbers on offense that year, but that was more the product of poor roster construction by the front office than anything else.
Bottom line: Jedd Fisch moves around and it’s not exactly stunning he’s leaving New England. But man, this was a quick one-year jaunt with an organization usually known for stability.
Jedd Fisch apparently HATES sticking around. pic.twitter.com/muJ8jtGKTy
— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) December 23, 2020
With all of that being said, however, Fisch had better hope this experience proves worthwhile because he’s going to have his work cut out for him with the Wildcats, who are 0-5 this season and are currently riding a 12-game losing streak after coming up short in their final seven games last year. Not to mention they’ve finished a season ranked in the AP Top 25 just once since 1998.
We obviously wish Fisch nothing but the best, but this news will force the Patriots back to the drawing board in terms of finding more cutting edge offensive minds to add to their coaching staff, which seems to lose at least one touted assistant every season nowadays.
