According to a source, the Patriots are set to hire Doug Marrone, a former NFL head coach, offensive coordinator, and experienced offensive line coach. Marrone, 60, is best known for his head coaching roles with the Buffalo Bills (2013-2014) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2016-2020).
Most recently, Marrone served as a Senior Analyst for Football Strategy at Boston College under Bill O’Brien. A former NFL offensive tackle, Marrone has extensive experience coaching offensive lines. He last worked in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, coaching their offensive line from 2022-2023. Before that, in 2021, he was the offensive line coach at Alabama under Nick Saban.
Marrone’s playing career spanned from 1986 to 1991. Following his retirement, he transitioned into coaching at colleges like Cortland State, Coast Guard, Northeastern, Georgia Tech, Georgia, and Tennessee. He entered the NFL coaching ranks as the offensive line coach for the New York Jets from 2002 to 2005.
In 2006, Marrone became the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints, a position he held for three years before being named head coach at Syracuse University. With a 25-25 record at Syracuse, he was hired by the Bills in 2013. Marrone’s tenure in Buffalo included a 6-10 season in 2013 and a 9-7 campaign in 2014, but he resigned after the season, exercising an out clause following the team’s sale.
Marrone then joined the Jaguars as assistant head coach and offensive line coach, eventually becoming head coach in 2017. That year, the Jaguars went 10-6 and reached the AFC Championship game, where they lost to the Patriots. Marrone’s overall record with Jacksonville was 23-43, and he was dismissed after the 2020 season.
Now, Marrone brings his wealth of experience to Vrabel’s coaching staff in New England. If he takes on the role of offensive line coach, he’ll succeed Scott Peters, who recently joined the Cincinnati Bengals. Marrone will join an experienced group that includes offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, running backs coach Tony Dews, quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant, and offensive assistant Riley Larkin.
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