Ohio State hired NFL coach Matt Patricia as its new defensive coordinator following reports that the two sides were nearing a deal, the university announced Thursday as part of multiple staff changes.

National champion Ohio State made the appointments of defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline official on Thursday.

Matt Patricia became a household name with the Patriots, but his journey to Ohio State football started in New York — where he went from an engineer to a Syracuse graduate assistant.

Ohio State is in the process of hiring Matt Patricia, a longtime assistant and head coach in the NFL, as its defensive coordinator, a source told The Dispatch.

Ohio State made their final big decision when it comes to their 2025 coaching staff on Wednesday by finding a replacement for Jim Knowles. The Buckeyes landed on former Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia to be their next defensive coordinator.

Week 1 isn’t going to be the best version of the 2025 defense. And in the expanded College Football Playoff era, it doesn’t need to be.

Matt Patricia is expected to be named Ohio State football defensive coordinator. Patricia was head coach of the Detroit Lions in 2018-20.

The Ohio State football team has found their new defensive coordinator as Ryan Day is hiring Matt Patricia to replace Jim Knowles. Knowles left for Penn State after the Buckeyes won the national championship. Now, the Buckeyes are bringing in a DC with a lot of NFL experience, having won three Super Bowls in his career.

With former Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly heading back to the NFL this offseason, the Buckeyes decided to promote wide receivers coach and a former NFL wide receiver in his own right in Brian Hartline to the role of offensive coordinator.