Minnesota has been the home for former Camden Fairview Cardinal Andre Patterson for many years, where he's worked under head coach Mike Zimmer.
Since becoming a coach in 1982, Patterson has risen in the ranks at the collegiate and professional levels. While he has had many different coaching positions, one thing has been certain: Patterson knows how to develop a high-caliber defensive line.
After eight seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Patterson is moving on to become the defensive line coach of the New York Giants. Patterson will be entering in his 41st year as a coach and his 30th as a defensive line coach.
Patterson first got into coaching when he became a graduate assistant with the University of Montana Grizzlies in 1982. He then went on to become an assistant coach at Renton High School for four years, followed by taking the head coaching position for Saint Monica Catholic High School for a year.
Since then, he has transitioned to multiple different jobs as a defensive line coach or defensive coordinator for 12 teams from 1988 to 2013, including his first stint with the Minnesota Vikings in the 1998 and 1999 NFL seasons.
Patterson was hired by Zimmer to become the defensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings for just the second time in his coaching career. Patterson was tasked with developing an efficient and well-balanced defensive line after the team lost five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen. Under Patterson, the Vikings' defense became known for their tough and devastating units throughout the line.
In the first season with Patterson, former first round defensive end Everson Griffen had a breakout year, as Patterson utilized his full potential as a pass rusher. Griffen accumulated 58 total tackles, 41 solo tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and three pass breakups. Griffen was voted as a Pro-Bowler for each of the following four seasons.
Patterson has also been key in the development of two-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Linval Joseph, now with the Los Angeles Chargers. Behind the solid frame and playing ability of Joseph and Griffen in 2016, the Vikings' defense ranked third in passing yards allowed per game (207.9 yards) and only allowed nine rushing touchdowns all season, tied for third-fewest in the league.
In eight years at Minnesota, the defense accumulated 575 tackles for loss and 334 sacks, tied for fourth-most in the league since 2014. The main contributor in the Vikings' pass rush since 2014 was Griffen with 62 sacks. Only the Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers have made more sacks since 2014.
In 2020, Patterson became the co-defensive coordinator of the Vikings after the team announced they would not return George Edwards. Patterson shared the title and job responsibility with Vikings linebacker coach Adam Zimmer, the son of head coach Mike Zimmer. The Vikings finished the 2020 NFL season with the 29th ranked scoring defense (29.7 points allowed per game). The team finished with an overall record of 7-9 behind one of the toughest schedules in the NFC.
The Vikings' defense did find ways to get better as they finished this past NFL season with the 24th ranked scoring defense in the league (25.1 points allowed per game). D.J. Wonnum finished as the leading sacker for Minnesota with eight sacks.
After the Vikings fired their general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer after the conclusion of the regular season, it was clear that the team was looking to clean house. With the many years of experience in developing high-caliber defensive lines in the NFL, Patterson was given several offers to rebuild their defensive line. Patterson chose to become the new defensive line coach of the New York Giants, led by new head coach Brian Daboll, over the Seattle Seahawks.
Patterson will have the opportunity to develop an efficient defensive line of the Giants after they finished the 2021 season accounting for the ninth fewest sacks in the league with 34.
The Giants have talent at their defensive line that likes to utilize the 3-4 front, a scheme that differs from Patterson's preferred 4-3 front.
Leading the way for the Giants' defensive line is defensive end Leonard Williams. This past season, Williams accumulated 14 quarterback hits, 6.5 sacks (second-on-team) and five tackles for loss at the strongside defensive end. Patterson could install the 4-3 front scheme where Williams projects to shift back to his natural position at the three-technique defensive tackle.
The Giants will have several key pass rushers returning, including rookie outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari, the team's leading sacker (8). Azeez could find himself playing a hybrid position as a standup defensive end this next season, similar to the Chicago Bears' Khalil Mack.
With this potential shift in defensive fronts with the addition of Patterson as defensive line coach, the Giants will need more talent to surround Williams, Olujari and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. The Giants have two first round picks (fifth overall and seventh overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft. They also have two third-rounders in the Draft. A pure defensive end pass rusher is one of the biggest areas of concern for the Giants this off-season.
Patterson could be in a great situation with the Giants, where he will be one of the main contributors to the team's rebuilding process, as he was in Minnesota when he joined the Vikings coaching staff in 2014.