The New England Patriots are expanding their leadership team with the introduction of the Jerod Mayo era set to commence next autumn. Having been led by Bill Belichick for 24 years, the Patriots are navigating new territory, marked by significant personnel changes across the organization. In a recent development, the Patriots announced the addition of Miami Hurricanes general manager Alonzo Highsmith to their front office, as reported by Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.
The New England Patriots are hiring University of Miami general manager Alonzo Highsmith for a front office role, sources tell @247sports.
A return to the NFL for Highsmith, who previously worked for the Seahawks, Browns and Packers. (@brucefeldmancfb, @manny_navarro and… pic.twitter.com/jwVuUrTAWw
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 7, 2024
In addition to Highsmith, the Patriots have brought on board offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and Jeremy Spring as special teams coordinator. Furthermore, they have elevated DeMarcus Covington to the role of defensive coordinator.
Alonzo Highsmith Rejoining NFL
Highsmith’s athletic journey began at the University of Miami, where he excelled as a running back from 1983 to 1986, contributing 1,873 yards and 18 touchdowns to help secure a championship during his freshman year. Following his collegiate football career, Highsmith embarked on a six-season stint in the NFL before transitioning to professional boxing, where he achieved an impressive record of 27–1–2 over four years.
In 2012, Highsmith ventured into the front office realm, starting as a Senior Personnel Executive with the Green Bay Packers. His expertise led to a promotion to Vice President of Player Personnel with the Cleveland Browns in 2018, where he remained for two seasons. Highsmith then joined the Seattle Seahawks in 2020, serving as a personnel executive.
Amidst the evolving landscape of college athletics, particularly with the introduction of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations, Highsmith made a transition back to college football in 2022. He assumed the role of general manager of football operations at the University of Miami. During his tenure, Miami made substantial investments in NIL contracts. However, the program’s on-field performance yielded a disappointing 12-13 record within the ACC conference.
