Patriots are hiring Rams assistant Jeremy Springer as special teams coordinator, AP source says

By KYLE HIGHTOWER
AP Sports Writer

The New England Patriots have an agreement in place with Los Angeles Rams assistant Jeremy Springer to become their special teams coordinator, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the team has yet to announce the hire. NFL Network first reported the agreement.

Springer, 34, is coming off his second season with the Rams, for whom he served as a special teams assistant. Before that, he spent eight years coaching in college, making stops at UTEP, Texas A&M, Arizona and Marshall. He served as special teams coordinator for the Aggies, Wildcats and Thundering Herd.

Springer will now be tasked with improving a Patriots special teams unit that ranked 28th in the NFL this season in defense-adjusted value over average, or DVOA, an advanced metrics used to measure efficiency. The Patriots’ special teams ranked last by that statistic in 2022.

New England also will likely be rebuilding its special teams without longtime captain Matt Slater, who is expected to retire this offseason.

New Patriots coach Jerod Mayo is still conducting interviews for offensive coordinator following the departure of Bill O’Brien to take the same role at Ohio State. Defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington, who has served as an assistant in New England since 2017, is expected to be promoted to defensive coordinator.

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