Ex-Jets Running Backs Coach Joins Patriots; Mayo Holds Internal Meeting?

The Patriots are reportedly going to bring on Taylor Embree, who was the running backs coach for the New York Jets, to replace Mayo, according to a CBS report from Tuesday afternoon. After Vinnie Sunsieri leaves to coach the defensive backs at the University of Washington, he will take over for Sunsieri.

The Jets hired Embree, 35, to coach the running backs in 2021. He would report to head coach Robert Saleh. The news that Embree would not be returning in 2024 was announced by the team in January.

After four years as a receiver at UCLA, Embree joined the San Diego Chargers in 2012 as an undrafted free agent. Having said that, he was waived after the preseason.

After accepting a position as a graduate assistant at UNLV in 2012, Embree immediately shifted his focus to coaching. He played for the Rebels for a single season before making a lateral move back to his alma mater, UCLA, and continued in the same role for the Bruins all the way into 2015.

Embree started his coaching career in 2016 with the Chiefs, but in 2017 he was hired by the 49ers to coach offensive quality control. There, he worked alongside his father, Jon, who is currently the tight ends coach for the Miami Dolphins. He remained with the Niners through the 2019 season.

Embree returned to college football in 2020 as the tight ends coach at Colorado, serving on the staff of first-year head coach Karl Dorrell. He lasted one year with the Buffaloes before following Saleh—wwith whom he worked as a member of the 49ers—tto East Rutherford for a job with the Jets.

The news of Embree’s probable hiring comes on the heels of a report from ESPN’s Mike Reiss stating that the majority of Patriots coaches hired by Mayo reported for work together on Tuesday. Reiss observed that the discussion marked a “notable stride and progression” toward creating staff chemistry and devising strategies for 2024 ambitions.

Since formally taking the leadership of the Patriots on Jan 17, Mayo has hired offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, quarterback coach T.C. McCartney, offensive line coach Scott Peters, assistant offensive line coach Robert Kugler, and assistant receivers coach Tiquan Underwood.