Buffalo Bills to hire former Patriots defensive coach (report)
The Buffalo Bills are set to hire former Patriots defensive backs coach, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports/247 Sports.
Pellegrino spent the past decade with the Patriots, including the last six years as cornerbacks coach. However, he was not retained for Mike Vrabel’s staff.
A former lacrosse player, Pellegrino was hired by Bill Belichick and quickly became a highly effective defensive backs coach, helping players like Stephon Gilmore, J.C. Jackson, and Christian Gonzalez achieve All-Pro status.
Both Jonathan Jones and Gonzalez spoke highly of Pellegrino’s coaching and “work ethic” during a radio appearance with MassLive last week.
Pellegrino was reportedly open to staying with the Patriots, as was safeties coach Brian Belichick, who will be joining his father at UNC.
Vrabel hired Justin Hamilton, who previously served as an assistant defensive backs coach with the Indianapolis Colts. Hamilton, a former player for Cleveland and Washington, was a defensive quality control coach for Vrabel in Tennessee in 2023.
Scott Booker has been named the new safeties coach in New England, taking over for Belichick.