The 37-year-old shortstop spent the last eight seasons in Cincinnati and began coaching quarterbacks in 2018. Since 2020, Pitcher has overseen Joe Burrow’s evolution from No. 1 overall pick to Pro Bowler and AFC Champion. The tight end is the third most popular candidate for the recently vacant Patriots offensive coordinator job, joining assistants Nick Caley and Zach Robinson.
Werper also arranged offensive coordinator interviews with the Saints and Raiders. He could also have the opportunity to succeed Brian Callahan as the Bengals’ offensive coordinator after Callahan agreed to become the Titans’ head coach on Monday night.
Pitcher originally joined the Bengals as a low-level offensive assistant in 2016, working with wide receivers and quarterbacks under former head coach Marvin Lewis. After Lewis was fired in 2019, current Bengals coach Zack Taylor retained him at quarterback. Werper helped control the clock that season. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Pitcher is also planning a third game for the Bengals. Burrow spoke highly of his coaching position: “We get along really well both in and out of the room. “We have a good working relationship,” he said.According to NFL Network, the tight end received interest from the Ravens and Buccaneers for the offensive coordinator position last season.
That interest, which included an interview with Tampa Bay, led to a lucrative contract extension in Cincinnati. Pitcher, a former quarterback at SUNY Cortland, joined his alma mater’s coaching staff as an offensive assistant in 2012. He joined the Colts’ scouting department a year later and stayed for four years, eventually reaching the ranks of professional scouts. Like Kaley and Robinson, Pitcher has experience coaching Sean McVay-style offenses. He is the only candidate who did not work under McVay, who hired Kelly, a former Patriots assistant for eight years, last season.
Under the NFL’s Rooney Rule, the Patriots must interview at least one non-minority candidate before finalizing their offensive coordinator search. New head coach Jerrod Mayo is also conducting a simultaneous search to find his next defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator. Either or both of these searches may be terminated at any time after the Rooney Rule takes effect.
