As the 2020 New England Patriots season gets underway, there are some new faces on the coaching staff. One of those faces is Troy Brown.
Brown was a key part of the Patriots in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He caught 557 passes for 6,366 yards and 31 touchdowns. He also proved his worth as a punt returner, returning 252 punts for 2,625 yards and three touchdowns.
Brown will serve the role of running backs coach, while Mick Lombardi will be the Patriots wide receivers coach. Bill Belichick spoke to the media on Friday, and noted that in today’s game of football, running backs are becoming weapons in the passing game. As a result, Brown could fit well into his new role.
“Troy spent the year with us last year. Of course, he has a tremendous amount of experience here. He’ll continue to work with other positions, as well, the returners and slot receivers,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said Friday on a video conference call. “But I think just given the conversations I’ve had with Troy, he’s very eager. He has a very good football — he’s a very instinctive football player and coach. I think he was always great with the ball in his hands as a runner. He was obviously a great receiver. That’s a big part of every running back’s job. Again, he was a strong player in the kicking game, as well. It was an opportunity for him to be involved with a little bit of a different group.
With players like James White and Rex Burkhead especially apt at catching the football, Brown could help them elevate their game. It will be interesting to see if Brown’s style will rub off on the running backs.
