Patriots Exec Leaving New England to Reunite With Bill Belichick

Most Patriots fans are focused on the hiring of new head coach Mike Vrabel and his staff, though the organization just lost a key staff member to Bill Belichick's group at North Carolina.

Chris Mattes, who served as the Director of Football Development and was with New England for eight years, is joining Belichick's staff with the Tar Heels. He first came to the Patriots as a player operations and engagement director in 2017 though he was promoted in 2024.

Now that Belichick is committed to the college ranks, Mattes elected to follow suit.

Patriots Lose Executive to Bill Belichick's UNC Tar Heels

This is the first big move but more are likely on the horizon. Belichick is working on building out his support system in a new place, so it's logical to bring guys along that he trusts and has experience with.

From the Patriots' perspective, Vrabel has guys he wants to bring along as well, hoping to establish a winning culture after multiple years of underwhelming performances. Drake Maye looks like a legitimate franchise quarterback but otherwise, the entire roster needs work.

It'll be a challenge for Vrabel to build a consistent winner, though he'll have the resources to give it his best shot. New England will pick fourth in the 2025 NFL Draft and need to have a stellar rookie class to avoid wasting Maye's rookie deal. Some intriguing players could be available via trade and free agency, yet it'll still require a couple of years before fans should expect a playoff appearance.

What Mattes' exact role will be at North Carolina isn't yet clear. He'll probably have a key role alongside Belichick but either way, significant changes are on the horizon for a franchise known for consistency.

It's Vrabel's team now. For Patriots fans, hopefully that means a quick turnaround so they can put these last couple of years behind them as fast as possible.

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