The Patriots are hiring Adrian Klemm away from Oregon as their offensive line coach and run game coordinator, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports. Klemm served as Oregon’s offensive line coach, run game coordinator and associate head coach in 2022.
Klemm is a former NFL offensive lineman who was Bill Belichick’s first draft pick as Patriots head coach in 2000. Klemm spent five years playing for New England in the early 2000s and was on three Super Bowl championship teams. He entered coaching in 2008 and worked for SMU, UCLA and the Steelers before joining Oregon last season.
New England interviewed Klemm for its offensive coordinator position that ultimately went to Bill O’Brien. According to SI’s Albert Breer, Klemm’s area of responsibility will be the same that Matt Patricia handled in 2022, and Klemm should play a large role in the team’s running game.
The Patriots’ rushing offense ranked 24th among the NFL’s 32 teams in 2022, failing to surpass 2,000 yards for the first time since 2019. Additionally, New England was one of five teams which failed to record a rush of over 40 yards during the season. Oregon, meanwhile, allowed the fewest sacks in the nation last season, surrendering just five in 13 games.
Klemm is the latest hire in the Patriots’ offensive coaching staff shakeup. Besides hiring Klemm and O’Brien, the team also added Will Lawing, while tight ends coach Nick Caley left to take the same job with the Rams.
