Patriots add Thomas Brown to staff as passing game coordinator

Former Bears interim coach Thomas Brown has found a landing spot.

According to multiple reports, Brown is headed to the Patriots to be their offensive passing coordinator/tight ends coach.

Brown, 38, held three different positions with the Bears last year – passing game coordinator, offensive coordinator and interim head coach. He was elevated to the latter position after Matt Eberflus was fired in late November. Chicago went 1-4 with Brown as interim coach before hiring Ben Johnson last week to take over the role permanently.

After beginning his coaching career at the collegiate level, Brown joined the Rams staff in 2020 as the running backs coach. He was promoted to assistant head coach in 2021.

Brown was then Carolina’s offensive coordinator in 2023.

Multiple reports also indicate that New England is hiring Jason Houghtaling to be an assistant coach on the club’s staff. Houghtaling worked with Brown last season as Chicago’s assistant offensive line coach, but also previously worked under Vrabel. He was Tennessee’s assistant OL coach from 2021-22 and offensive line coach in 2023.