Ryan Day’s True Motives Behind Matt Patricia Interest Exposed After Losing Out on NFL Veteran Coach

Fresh off a National Championship, Ryan Day finds himself in an unexpected battle in the coaching carousel. After Jim Knowles joined Penn State as their new DC for a three-year $3.1 million per season deal, Ohio State has been on a hunt for a high-profile replacement. Day took a big swing at the Kansas City Chiefs D-line coach—a veteran NFL coach who has nearly two decades of experience. But that interest fizzled out, ultimately leading to this point where Matt Patricia enters.

RJ Young is confident that Ryan Day’s DC target is “not necessarily the kind of hire that I think is going to move that many people.” In a new episode of The Number One College Football Show on February 12, he explored the possible motive behind the Matt Patricia interest. “Matt Patricia is in here. I think he would be the Chip Kelly kind of hire where you get to have this guy for perhaps a year maybe,” Young stated. “You go win a National Championship with him and he goes back to the NFL because that feels like where he wants to be. 

Matt Patricia, who met with Ohio State in Columbus on Monday, last served as a senior defensive assistant for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. Young added, “This is an opportunity for Ryan Day to go pull one of those guys from the NFL that he’s always enjoyed and perhaps is giving him fits when he’s in a film room trying to diagnose how to go at the weaknesses of a defense that might not have much.” Best known for his time with the New England Patriots from 2004-17—six seasons as Bill Belichick’s DC—his NFL pedigree is undeniable. But his lack of college football experience raises questions about his fit in Columbus.

Despite that, RJ Young has a faint hope that Patricia will say yes to the offer because Ohio State is a locked and loaded program with the resources to win football games. “Matt Patricia, I think like Bill Belichick has been very good at making the most of a limited skill set of talent,” he said. “OR in this case, maybe he could find some different ways to unlock some of the most talented players at Ohio State.”

The Buckeyes will have elite players returning on defense, including safety Caleb Downs, LB Sonny Styles, and DL Kayden McDonald, among others. They’ve also earned commitments from key defensive players from the 2025 class, including 5-star CB Devin Sanchez. But it takes a good coach to unlock the potential of such gifted players. And the Buckeyes aren’t short on candidates.

Ryan Day and Ohio State miss out on Joe Cullen

Missing out on Joe Cullen was a setback. Bucknuts 247Sports’ Dave Biddle first reported this news on the podcast, saying, “There was a lot of smoke that it could be Joe Cullen coming here at least in some capacity… But I’m hearing that it’s probably not gonna happen.” The Chiefs’ SB run delayed the move and eventually ended all hope about him coming to Columbus.

The talk with Matt Patricia is in progress. But what if they face the same Cullen setback? Ryan Day is prepared, and one of his possible targets is Ohio State alum and Pitt’s DC Randy Bates since 2018. Another potential target is their in-house safeties coach Matt Guerrieri, who could bring continuity to what the Buckeyes compiled in defense this past season—allowing just 254.6 yards and 12.9 points per game.

Replacing Jim Knowles won’t be easy. His departure has left a huge void, and Ryan Day knows the pressure is on. Whether it’s Patricia, Bates, Guerrieri, or a surprise candidate, the Buckeyes need to get this hire right.