Patriots Coach is Jumping Ship Before 2023 Season Ends

A New England Patriots coach is jumping ship for a new job before the team's disastrous 2023 season has even ended.
Dec 3, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches
Dec 3, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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The way the New England Patriots' season has gone shouldn't really surprise anyone considering the obvious holes this roster had heading into the opening week. However, what makes this year especially disappointing is just how poorly run this team has been, which starts at the top.

As a result, head coach Bill Belichick's seat is one of the hottest in the league and could lead to a massive shakeup once the campaign is over.

It turns out, though, one of his assistants isn't waiting for the offseason to pursue a different job.

ESPN's Pete Thamel reports Syracuse is "set to hire" New England's Ross Douglas as its next wide receivers coach. Douglas will also work with the Orange's offense as he heads back to the college coaching ranks.

After going undrafted in 2017, Douglas quickly transitioned to the sidelines. He joined the recruiting department of his alma mater, Rutgers, before becoming a graduate assistant for the Scarlet Knights.

He then moved on to the University of Richmond for the 2021 season. However, just a couple months into that job, he was selected for the Patriots' fellowship coaching program. At the end of minicamp, New England offered Douglas an assistant job, which he accepted.

The 2023 campaign marked Douglas' third with the Pats. He worked his way up from assistant to WRs coach, helping to play a role in Jakobi Meyers' breakout 2022 performance.

With one Patriots coach already ditching Belichick's sinking ship, this now could open the floodgates. Surely everyone on the staff knows this is likely their last few games as an entire group, so it's in their best interest to pursue other opportunities now instead of being out of a job at the end of the year.

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