Matt Patricia’s unlikely path to becoming an NFL coach began with his buddies Jaleel Johnson Jersey , setting up miniature players on a vibrating, metal field for fierce games of electric football.

”I knew at a very young age the strategic part of the game was something that I just loved,” Patricia said Wednesday after being introduced as coach of the Detroit Lions. ”I thrived on it. We would try to just out plan each other all the time and we’d have huge games that would roll into weeks at a time.”

Years later, Patricia took a pivotal step toward his dream job after earning an aeronautical engineering degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute by being a graduate assistant at his alma mater. The former offensive lineman – who is from Sherrill, New York – coached up one of the players at RPI and saw him do what he was taught during a game.

”The success that we had and his joy that he showed from being able to do that, that’s really when it clicked for me as a coach,” Patricia said with his previously bushy beard trimmed and a pencil over his right ear. ”At that point, the strategic part of the game along with my coaching aspirations just kind of put things in motion.”

The Lions desperately hope Patricia takes full advantage of his first opportunity to lead a football team and ends their decades-long search for a coach who can lead them to elusive success in the playoffs.

Since winning the 1957 NFL title, Detroit’s only postseason victory was more than a quarter-century ago.

”Our goal is to win and to compete for championships,” team president Rod Wood said. ”I believe that we are taking the next step in meeting those expectations.”

Lions general manager Bob Quinn fired coach Jim Caldwell last month with a 36-28 mark over four years and two playoff appearances. The Lions went 9-7 last season and missed the playoffs, ranking among the NFL’s worst rushing teams for the fourth straight year.

”I wanted to find a leader that could take us to the next level and I am confident we have found that in Matt Patricia,” Quinn said.

The 43-year-old Patricia helped New England win three Super Bowls over 14 years. He was the Patriots’ defensive coordinator the past six seasons.

Detroit’s search was focused on Patricia right from the start because he worked with Quinn for a dozen years in New England.

”We sat next to each other in a lot of team meetings in New England for many of our years together Ethan Pocic Jersey ,” Quinn recalled. ”We also spent a great deal of time together on the road scouting college prospects, traveling around the country trying to find new players.”

In recent years, Patricia has become a candidate to lead a team in the league as one of Bill Belichick’s top assistant coaches. He appeared to be in the running to be hired by his homestate New York Giants and perhaps the Arizona Cardinals, but choose the challenge in the Motor City at least in part because of his relationship with Quinn.

”My comfort level with Bob is huge in all of this,” he said.

After being a graduate assistant at RPI in 1996, Patricia shifted gears to be an aeronautical engineer for two years. Patricia got back on the sideline as a defensive line coach at Amherst College in 1999 and went on to be a graduate assistant for Paul Pasqualoni, whom he has hired to be Detroit’s defensive coordinator.

Jim Bob Cooter was not mentioned in the Lions’ release regarding staff additions , but he is listed on the team’s website as its returning offensive coordinator.

”Jim Bob is on staff and he will be here,” Patricia said. ”Obviously, he’s done a great job here in what he’s been able to accomplish with both him and (Matthew) Stafford and the offense.”

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One thing sticks out to Patriots running back Dion Lewis about his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.

”Not playing,” Lewis said Tuesday with a smirk.

Lewis is one of three Patriots starters who will be facing their former team in Sunday’s Super Bowl, along with receiver Danny Amendola and safety Patrick Chung.

All three players look back on their experiences in Philadelphia differently Bradley Pinion Jersey , but they have played their best football since being rejected by the Eagles early in their careers.

Lewis was drafted by Philadelphia in the fifth round in 2011 and played two seasons for them before he was traded to Cleveland. Amendola was among Philadelphia’s final cuts in training camp in 2009. Chung started his career in New England, spent a forgettable year with the Eagles in 2013, then returned to the Patriots in 2014.

Amendola has experienced people doubting his abilities since he entered the league as an undrafted free agent with Dallas in 2008. He signed with Philadelphia in 2009 after being cut by the Cowboys. But after eight months with the Eagles, he was released. He was signed up by the St. Louis Rams and stayed there for four seasons before signing a five-year contract with the Patriots in 2013.

This past Christmas he tweeted a picture of his framed No. 11 Eagles jersey, a gift from a friend.

”It’s in my pool room – hanging as daily motivation,” Amendola said. ”I’ve come a long way since getting the opportunity to play there. It obviously didn’t work out, so I guess I take it as a learning experience and just realize how far I’ve come.”

Chung thought he was heading for a fresh start when he signed a three-year contract with Philadelphia in 2013, but it didn’t work out under then first-year coach Chip Kelly. Chung was back in New England the next season. The decision paid off with a Super Bowl ring last season.

As for that 2013 season, Chung was coy about what he remembers about the experience.

”That’ll be between me and those people,” Chung said.

Lewis said despite his success in New England winning a ring last season and leading the team this season in rushing yards (896) and rushing touchdowns (six), he has learned to stay motivated.

”Never safe. You still gotta put the work in. You still gotta get an opportunity. That’s what most of the guys in the league need – just an opportunity to compete,” Lewis said.

He said he’s matured a lot since leaving Philly.

”People look at you and kind of characterize you Bradley McDougald Jersey ,” Lewis said. ”They try to tell you what they think you can do without even really knowing you. That’s kind of what I went through. I just kind of keep battling and showing people what I can do.”

As much as Lewis, Amendola and Chung have enjoyed their time in New England, they aren’t naive to how the Patriots deal with aging players. This past offseason the Patriots parted with LeGarrette Blount, who led the NFL with 18 regular-season rushing touchdowns in 2016. But he also had turned 30, long considered the age of decline for running backs.

Blount was vocal about his desire to stay in New England, but the Patriots signed Mike Gillislee. Blount took a one-year deal with the Eagles, where he has had a good season and been a leader.

Amendola restructured his contract to remain with New England this season. With Julian Edelman out for the season with a knee injury, Amendola has stepped up, leading the team with 196 yards receiving and two touchdowns in the playoffs.

At 32, he will also enter free agency this summer.

Lewis is in the second year of a two-year deal and becomes an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. Chung, who turns 31 this summer, is signed through 2018.

Chung said he’s always admired Belichick’s no-nonsense approach to football. When reports came out about Belichick possibly considering retirement Jim Plunkett Jersey , Chung joked that his future was linked to that of his coach.

”When he’s done, I’ll be done, too,” Chung said.

Lewis said he will have no regrets if this is in his final season in New England.

”Just being here and learning what it takes to be a champion,” Lewis said. ”I think that’s something I’ll always remember, regardless of what happens. I’ll just cherish my moments here.”

The Patriots gave him – and Amendola and Chung – what they’ve always wanted: an opportunity.

”Nobody’s really given me a chance, and these guys gave me a chance. So that definitely means a lot to me,” Lewis said. ”So I’ll always just remember what I’ve learned here. And hopefully I’ll still be here.”

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