The initial list of Jerod Mayo’s staff left off notable names, but it appears there needed to be time to formalize their Patriots titles.
Troy Brown and Matthew Slater were notable absences on the coaching staff list. It was up in the air whether or not Brown would stay with Mayo after Bill Belichick was let go by New England. And Slater had a vague role as “advisory” to Mayo, who described the recently retired special teamer as his “right-hand man.”
On the weekend rookies reported to training camp, the skill development section of the was revealed on the team’s coaching staff. Brown’s title was listed as “skill development, kick/punt returners.” Slater’s official title with the Patriots will be “special assistant to the head coach. Also notably, Joey Kim, who joined the organization as a defensive assistant in 2018, officially is back as director of skill development.
These roles were hinted at by Mayo throughout the offseason, even while Brown reportedly was a candidate to become Arizona State’s wide receivers coach. And it seems like there needed to be time to get the details worked out to give Brown and Slater formal names with Kim back on the skills development staff.
They’ll have a busy time when New England begins training camp Wednesday.
