One of Bill Belichick's most loyal lieutenants is eyeing a college gig, but it's not at North Carolina.

Matt Patricia traveled to Ohio State to interview for their defensive coordinator opening earlier this week, according to Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports. Coming off a National Championship, Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles departed for Penn State in January.

Patricia hasn't coached at the college level since he was a graduate assistant at Syracuse in 2003, but has a bevy of NFL experience.

All told, Patricia spent 16 years in New England, and won a pair of Super Bowls as Belichick's defensive coordinator (2012-17) before taking a head coaching gig with the Lions. In Detroit, Patricia went 13-29-1 before being dismissed amidst his third season.

Patricia's return to Foxborough didn't go well, as he produced dismal results as an offensive line coach and de facto offensive coordinator in 2022. After that, he served as a senior defensive assistant with the Eagles in 2023 and didn't coach last season, but did plenty of media work alongside Belichick.