The New England Patriots found a way to make headlines during Super Bowl LVIII.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, citing a source, stated that the Patriots are close to hiring Tiquan Underwood to their coaching staff.
Underwood is familiar with the Patriots and their new head coach, Jerod Mayo. The 36-year-old was teammates with Mayo during his single season with New England in 2011.
After his NFL career ended in 2013, Underwood played three seasons in the Canadian Football League before advancing to the coaching ranks. Underwood began his teaching career as a wide receivers coach at Lafayette College in 2018, and the following year joined the Miami Dolphins as a quality control assistant.
In 2020, Underwood returned to collegiate football, serving as the wide receivers coach for Greg Schiano at Rutgers for two seasons. Underwood most recently served as Pittsburgh’s pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach.
It is unclear who Underwood will work with to train New England’s wide receivers. Troy Brown coached the positional group this season, but it has not been announced whether he will remain on Mayo’s staff. Ross Douglas, who worked alongside Brown, left the Patriots in the midst of the season to accept the same role with Syracuse.
Underwood did not contribute much as a player during his brief stint with the Patriots, catching three passes for 30 yards in six games. His employment is best known for being cut a day before Super Bowl XLVI and attracting the ire of Tom Brady, which resulted in a violent sideline fight between Brady and Bill Belichick.
Underwood is only the latest Patriots player to join Mayo’s staff. Dont’a Hightower will allegedly coach linebackers for New England next season.
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