Patriots assistant emerges as top NFL head coaching candidate

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Patriots assistant emerges as top NFL head coaching candidate

Mark Daniels · MassLive

Fri, Jan 16, 2026 ·

4 min read

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FOXBOROUGH – Thomas Brown has seen the top of the mountain in the NFL. The veteran assistant coach has also dealt with adversity.

The Patriots tight ends coach and passing game coordinator says he’s learned a lot from the high and low points of his coaching career. Viewed as a top assistant coach , it’s not a surprise that Brown is considered one of the top coaching candidates in the NFL.

That’s why the Arizona Cardinals requested to interview the Patriots ’ coach for their head coaching vacancy. Brown also understands how special a playoff run can be, which is why he’s solely focused on adding another Super Bowl title to his resume.

“I’m always extremely grateful to have an opportunity to be recognized in that capacity and having an opportunity to compete for one of the 32,” Brown said. “I’ve had an opportunity to have three postseason runs, one in the Super Bowl, which is also a rare opportunity. So just being able to have the entire focus on trying to maximize every opportunity because it’s a win-or-go-home type scenario.

“I think all that stuff will kind of work itself out in due time. But I think being able to be a part of a winning organization, that commitment is where it attracts people to bring your name up.”

Brown, 39, broke into the NFL in 2020 in Los Angeles with coach Sean McVay, a running backs coach. In his first year, the Rams finished 10-6, losing in the NFC divisional round. Under McVay, Brown became a top assistant in the NFL.

In 2021, he was promoted to assistant head coach to go with his running back duties. That year, the Rams won Super Bowl LVI over the Cincinnati Bengals .

Brown said he learned valuable lessons about what it takes to win an NFL championship and said he sees something similar in New England under Mike Vrabel.

“I think one of the biggest things is what we kind of helped develop here underneath Vrabes is just the culture, the community environment you want to be able to have,” Brown said. “It helps breed success. I think competitive environments, but also environments where the players take on the personality of the head coach, and also push each other to make sure they’re on top of their P’s and Q’s week in and week out.”

In 2022, Brown stayed with the Rams as assistant head coach and was moved to coach tight ends. The Rams didn’t make the playoffs that season, but Brown earned a promotion, going to Carolina to be the offensive coordinator under Frank Reich.

At the end of the 2023 season, Brown was named one of the top offensive coordinators in the NFLPA players’ poll.

Brown and the Panthers staff were let go at the end of that season after Reich’s firing. That led the coach to Chicago , where he was hired as the Bears’ passing game coordinator under Matt Eberflus. Last season was a whirlwind for Brown. He was promoted to offensive coordinator after the team fired Shane Waldrom. On Nov. 29, 2024, Brown was named the Bears’ interim head coach after Eberflus was let go.

That led Brown to Foxborough, where he’s back coaching in the playoffs for the first time since winning that Super Bowl in 2021.

“I never take these opportunities for granted. I’ve had some different experiences in other places than how I started in the NFL with the Rams,” Brown said. “I think being able to have the perspective of not actually making it in some ways makes you appreciate it even more.”

Brown’s been focused on the Patriots this postseason, but he said he’s been busy preparing for playoff opponents. That’s why he hasn’t had his interview with the Cardinals for their head-coaching vacancy yet.

It’s been an interesting journey for Brown, but one he said has made him a better coach and prepared him for whatever comes next.

“I think I’ve had some great experiences. I’ve had some that at the moment may not have seen great,” Brown said. “They’ve all helped shape my career path, but also help kind of build towards the tolerance of dealing with adversity. I think, in more ways than one, some of the so-called darker moments in your life, at least for me personally, have helped shape me more than just the successes.

“I think having success has given opportunities, has attracted people towards me in certain capacities. But I’ve learned and grown more through being in environments of discomfort because you got two choices. You can run and hide from it, or you can take it on head-on. I’m definitely not the run and hide type.”

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