Matt Patricia’s brief and disappointing tenure as the head coach of the Detroit Lions was marked by clashes with players and a tumultuous atmosphere.
The Lions won only 13 games in just under three years under Patricia’s leadership, leading to his mid-season dismissal in 2020.
Hiring Patricia, who previously served as New England’s defensive coordinator for six years, did not yield positive results for the struggling franchise. The team regressed during his time in Michigan, and several players openly criticized Patricia after his departure. Darius Slay, in particular, expressed his dissatisfaction, noting that Patricia acted as if he were “bigger and better than all of us.”
Former NFL offensive tackle Tyrell Crosby, who played for the Lions from 2018 to 2022, shared an unusual insight into Patricia’s coaching style. After a loss to Seattle on October 28, 2018, Crosby decided to keep track of Patricia’s use of profanity during a team meeting. Over a 49-minute meeting, Patricia dropped the F-word a staggering 374 times, averaging 7.6 times per minute.
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Crosby’s decision to tally the profanities sparked a reaction in the meeting room, highlighting the intensity and unconventional coaching style of Patricia during his Lions tenure.
After his departure from the Lions, Patricia returned to the New England Patriots in 2021 and 2022. In the 2022 season, he served as a senior defensive assistant for the Philadelphia Eagles, where reports suggested a softer approach to coaching.
It appears that Patricia’s pace of profanity has slowed since his time with the Lions.
