Unlimited Digital Access - Start Today for 50% Off - Offer Expires 4/30/24

Patriots to interview former team captain and Super Bowl champion for coaching job

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, celebrates his go-ahead touchdown pass with center Ryan Wendell (62) in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots came from behind to win 27-26. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
  • 1,817 shares
By

The Patriots search for a new offensive line coach could result in the team bringing in a familiar face.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Patriots are flying former team captain and current Buffalo Bills assistant offensive line coach Ryan Wendell to Las Vegas to interview for their vacant position.

Wendell, 36, played on the Patriots from 2008-to-2015 where he won a Super Bowl as a starting guard. He also played one season in Carolina before retiring. Wendell joined the Bills organization in 2019 as a coaching assistant. He was promoted to assistant offensive line coach in 2020..

The Patriots coaching staff is currently in Las Vegas where they’ll coach at the East West Shrine game. They’re looking for a new offensive line coach to replace Matt Patricia. They’re also reportedly flying out Oregon offensive line coach/run game coordinator Adrian Klemm out west for an interview as well, according to Breer. Klemm, who played with the Patriots from 2000-2004, also interviewed for the team’s offensive coordinator job.

Wendell represents one of the Patriots best undrafted free agent stories. He joined the team out of Fresno State in 2008, but was cut at the end of training camp and later signed to the practice squad. In 2009, he spent most of the season on the practice squad, but made his NFL debut, playing in two games.

Wendell was the Patriots top backup center in 2010 and 2011. He became the team’s starting center in 2012 and 2013. During the 2014 season, Wendell moved over to right guard, where he started, and the Patriots won Super Bowl XLIX. The next season, he was named a Patriots captain for the first time in his career.

Bill Belichick once gave Wendell some eye-opening praise for the progression he made during his time in Foxborough.

“I’d say it’s been about as big of a progression as really any player could have, any player I’ve had or any player could have — maybe Steve Neal, but it’s the same kind of thing, guys that weren’t even on the practice squad that eventually became starting players in the NFL,” Belichick said on July 29, 2014. “That’s a pretty big jump. It took a lot of time, a lot of hard work, and he’s certainly done his part and worked hard. He’s a very smart football player and doesn’t have many missed assignments, does a good job with communication from the center position with the offensive line.”

It’d be fitting if Wendell’s journey brought him back to New England.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

X

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

If you opt out, we won’t sell or share your personal information to inform the ads you see. You may still see interest-based ads if your information is sold or shared by other companies or was sold or shared previously.