The Patriots plan to hire Taylor Embree as their new running backs coach, a source confirmed to the Herald.
Embree, 35, was most recently with the Jets. After serving as the Jets’ running backs coach from 2021 to 2023, he was not set to return for the 2024 season.
Embree played wide receiver at UCLA and after a brief stop with the Chargers as a player went straight into coaching. He’s spent time at UNLV, UCLA and Colorado at the college level and with the Chiefs, 49ers and Jets in the NFL.
The Jets’ offense as a whole struggled in 2023 after quarterback Aaron Rodgers got hurt in Week 1, but running back Breece Hall averaged 4.5 yards per carry. Hall averaged 5.8 yards per rush as a rookie in 2022 under Embree. Embree was an offensive quality control coach under 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan from 2017 to 2019.
The Patriots will have a new-look offense under head coach Jerod Mayo with Alex Van Pelt as offensive coordinator and T.C. McCartney, Ben McAdoo, Tiquan Underwood, Scott Peters and Robert Kugler on staff.
They’re still on the hunt for a wide receivers coach and tight ends coach. Last season’s tight ends coach, Will Lawing, is set to be Bill O’Brien’s offensive coordinator at Boston College, per ESPN. The future of last season’s wide receivers coach, Troy Brown, remains uncertain.
Embree’s hiring was first reported by CBS Sports.