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Patriots Coach Who Just Left Already Lands New Gig with AFC East Rival

Only two weeks after leaving New England, one former Patriots coach has already landed a new gig with one of the franchise's AFC East rivals.

By Devon Platana

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft introduces Mike Vrabel (not photographed) as the New England Patriots new head coach at a press conference at Gillette Stadium.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft introduces Mike Vrabel (not photographed) as the New England Patriots new head coach at a press conference at Gillette Stadium. / Eric Canha-Imagn Images
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The Super Bowl is over, meaning the NFL offseason has officially begun.

The New England Patriots underwent plenty of changes throughout the last month as head coach Mike Vrabel continues to shape his coaching staff. Vrabel's arrival means Patriots fans have been forced to say goodbye to some beloved coaches — including former cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino, who had spent nearly a decade with the franchise in some capacity.

While some coaches struggle to find new employment opportunities, that clearly isn't the case for the 31-year-old defensive coach, judging by the last rumors regarding his future.

Patriots News: Bills Hire Mike Pellegrino as CB Coach

On Sunday night, CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz reported that the Buffalo Bills "are expected to hire" Pellegrino as their new CB coach. The announcement comes just under a week after the Patriots hired new safeties coach Scott Booker, who previously coached the Bills' nickelbacks in 2024.

Even though most fans don't know his face, Pellegrino played a big role in the Patriots' recent defensive success. Cornerbacks J.C. Jackson (2021) and Christian Gonzalez (2024) both had All-Pro performances under his guidance, as well as New England fan favorite Stephon Gilmore, who was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year while working with Pellegrino in 2019.

The Bills finished the 2024 season with the second-worst coverage grade (37.7) on Pro Football Focus, so it isn't surprising that they're turning to the proven secondary expert for help. For comparison, the Patriots finished with the 15th-best coverage grade (68.8) despite having a less successful campaign than their AFC East rivals.

Time will reveal if Pellegrino can improve Buffalo's secondary much like he did for New England. The AFC East foes will face off against each other twice (as usual) next season, meaning it won't be much longer before Patriots fans find out if letting him leave town was a good decision.

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