The 5 best defensive coordinators in the history of the New England Patriots

Because the Patriots have accomplished so much success during the last 20+ years, they have seen their fair share of incredible coaches to make up the sidelines and help lead them to unimaginably impressive status in the history of the league.

They were fortunate to be led by defensive genius Bill Belichick for most of that time, but he also had a knack for hiring some truly great coaches to help make the team as successful as possible. That was made even more as most of the team's best defensive coordinators went on to become head coaches, which stemmed from their time as the Patriots' defensive coordinator.

Some of their careers were more memorable than others, but they all deserve acknowledgment for what they brought to the team during their time in Foxboro.

Criteria for selection

Throughout the New England Patriots' history, their offense tends to dominate the conversation regarding their best and most successful years. But it would be unwise to gloss over their impressive defenses over the last 30 years, which were led by some great defensive coordinators who deserve to be recognized.

When ranking the best of the best, there's more to consider than just their win/loss record, as that doesn't usually tell the whole story of their tenures.

Their overall impact as defensive coordinators is the basis of their importance, along with the rosters they assembled and how they fared under their guidance. Plenty of players went on to become legends in New England and NFL history during the times of these five DCs, which makes their careers even more memorable in the eyes of the fans.

The 5 best defensive coordinators in the history of the Patriots

5. Al Groh

His record might not be one of the best, as he ended his four year tenure as the Patriots defensive coordinator with a 32-32 record, but Al Groh was part of New England's rise to relevancy in the 90s and that can't be overlooked.

After selecting Drew Bledsoe in the 1993 Draft to become the face of the franchise, the Patriots hoped to be on the map again. They accomplished that during Groh's four seasons from 1993 to 1996, making the playoffs twice and representing the AFC in Super Bowl XXXI against the Green Bay Packers.

Ironically, he worked with Bill Belichick prior to his hiring in New England as an assistant to the head coach with the Cleveland Browns. He eventually took over the vacancy left by Belichick when he resigned from the Jets head coach position to take the Patriots job instead, making his Patriots connections go on for years after he left.

His time with the Patriots might be mostly forgettable due to their overall lack of success. But he contributed to getting them back on track to being a competitive team once again.

4. Dean Pees

As the second most successful defensive coordinator in team history, Dean Pees deserves to be recognized for what he did during a down time during the dynasty years.

He was the Patriots' defensive coordinator from 2006 to 2009, a time when the team went to a Super Bowl but lost in what could have been an undefeated season due to the defense's mistakes.

They still went to the playoffs three times during his tenure, holding a 4-3 record during Pees' four seasons, and had some of the most star-studded defenses in recent memory.

3. Matt Patricia

It might be hard to think of any complimentary words to say about Matt Patricia after his horrific second tenure in New England, but how well he performed as a defensive coordinator during the second half of the dynasty should not be overlooked.

Patricia was hired as the team's DC at the start of (what would be) the second half of the Patriots dynasty, during which time they went on to win three more Super Bowls in five years. Although Tom Brady was still running the offense and had the skills to mask its deficiencies, Patricia put together some of the best defenses to help balance the team, and several players became legends because of it.

With the exception of their poor performance against the Eagles in Super Bowl LII, Patricia maintained a solid defense, which led him to be offered the vacant head coaching position with the Lions in 2018.

Although that wasn't a highlight of his career, nor was his eventual return to New England, Patricia will (mostly) be remembered for his defensive insight.

1B. Bill Belichick

Maybe he was never officially listed as the Patriots defensive coordinator, but it would seem disingenuous if Bill Belichick were not considered one of the best defensive minds in the team's history.

Because of his defensive background, which he developed throughout his career until he was named the Patriots head coach in 2000, Belichick was always heavily involved in the defensive game plan, sharing his wealth of knowledge with the coaching staff over the years.

His intel helped New England have some of the best defenses throughout his tenure and had a significant impact on Tom Brady's career as he became the greatest quarterback of all time.

1A. Romeo Crennel

Besides maybe Bill Belichick, the Patriots have not had a better defensive coordinator than Romeo Crennel from 2001 to 2004.

He might not have been in the role for too long, but Crennel helped lead one of the most dominant defenses in the NFL of the early 2000s. This unit was at the very core of the Patriots' success at the start of the dynasty, with Crennel accomplishing an undefeated postseason record (9-0) as the team's DC.

While helping a team win three Super Bowls in four seasons is an impressive feat, Crennel's game plan against the "Greatest Show on Turf" in Super Bowl XXXVI might be the best of all. The Rarms were by far the favorite and the Patriots were considered just lucky to be there.

Because of that, they were counted out against the league's hottest offense, yet Crennel planned a nearly perfect game for the defense, leading to the team's first Super Bowl win in franchise history.

They won two more Lombardi's during Crennel's tenure, and his accomplishments, including a 48-16 record, inevitably led to his becoming the head coach of the Browns in 2005.

The 5 best defensive coordinators in the history of the Patriots by win %

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