Latest on the Patriots coaching staff and front office

Jerod Mayo hasn't had his official coronation. That's forthcoming. But the Patriots' new head coach isn't wasting any time trying to figure out his staff, with one interview in the books and another pending approval. 

Tem Lukabu, who just finished his first season as the Carolina Panthers linebacker coach, met with Mayo for the defensive coordinator role. That would mark a departure from recent Pats' history, as Bill Belichick was loathe to hand out that title (they last had one in 2017). Lukabu, 42, returned to the pro game after spending three years as Boston College's DC. Before that, he was the Bengals LB coach in 2019 and had four years under Belichick confidante Greg Schiano at Rutgers and Tampa Bay.

It is also possible that Mayo will use this time with Lukabu to check out position coaches, as both Steven and Brian Belichick have been offered roles with the team but may choose to follow their father to his next stop.

Per sources (and previous reporting), Mayo has excellent relationships with both sons and would welcome their return.

The Pats have also requested to interview current Atlanta Falcons special teams coordinator Marquice Williams. Williams is in limbo. The Falcons were the first to act on Black Monday, firing head coach Arthur Smith, yet since denied the Giants' desire to speak with Williams about their special team's vacancy. 

Williams has ties to the Pats. He was Matt Patricia's assistant special teams coach in Detroit in 2019 and 2020. He also coached at the East-West Shrine game last offseason with the Falcons staff, opposite the Pats.

Atlanta's special teams were 27th in DVOA last year, but 5th the year prior. New England was 28th.

Elsewhere, this is what I'm hearing regarding the front office and offensive coordinator spot.

• One team source believes the Pats will promote director of scouting Eliot Wolf to a more significant position of power. However, I did hear from two prominent league sources who believe Wolf and Matt Groh will eventually land wherever Belichick does—admittedly, I had not considered that. Perhaps we'll get a better sense of it in the coming days and weeks.
• Per sources - at least recently - Groh, the Pats' director of player personnel, has been the one reaching out to current Pats' players who are in walk years about retaining their services. Groh has also been on the road doing some college scouting (in conjunction with college scouting coordinator Camren Williams, who is well-thought of league-wide).
• The sense I get about the offensive coordinator spot is that a new voice will be running the show. Bill O'Brien has a year remaining on his deal (Bedard hears two years) and has enjoyed being back home, but he is considered a Belichick loyalist and may want to move on with the man who - in part - helped bring him back, or at least green-lit the return. Plus, despite not answering my question about his desire to be a head coach again, those who know him well believe that remains the aim for O'Brien, and it should — four of his seven seasons leading the Texans resulted in playoff trips. He also did a remarkable job during his short tenure as boss at Penn State.
• As for Josh McDaniels, yes, he has been around quite a bit recently (they never sold their house), attending the final game and being at Belichick's announcement with Robert Kraft about their mutual parting of ways (bahahaha). Will he consider a return? Indeed, the Krafts are fans. McDaniels likes it here. But sources believe Josh is also waiting on Belichick and could end up as an assistant head coach or in some other role, not necessarily as the OC. Belichick's faith in McDaniels has never waned.