The New England Patriots are further bolstering their leadership with the upcoming start of the Jerod Mayo era next autumn. Following a lengthy 24-year tenure under Bill Belichick’s guidance, the Patriots find themselves in a period of transition, marked by significant personnel changes across the organization. On Wednesday, they expanded their front office with the addition of Alonzo Highsmith, former general manager of the Miami Hurricanes, according to reports from 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 Mayo and Highsmith, the Patriots have brought on board offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and Jeremy Spring as the special teams coordinator. Furthermore, they’ve elevated DeMarcus Covington to the position of defensive coordinator.
Alonzo Highsmith: Rejoining NFL
Highsmith had a notable career as a running back for the Miami Hurricanes from 1983 to 1986, contributing to the team’s championship victory as a freshman while amassing 1,873 yards and 18 touchdowns. Following his six seasons in the NFL, Highsmith ventured into boxing, where he achieved a commendable record of 27–1–2 over four years. His foray into front-office roles began with the Green Bay Packers, where he held the position of Senior Personnel Executive in 2012. He later moved on to become the Vice President of Player Personnel for the Cleveland Browns in 2018, serving for two seasons.
Highsmith’s journey continued with the Seattle Seahawks in 2020, where he worked as a personnel executive. In the evolving landscape of NIL and player compensation, Highsmith transitioned to college football in 2022, assuming the role of general manager of football operations for the Miami Hurricanes. During his tenure, Miami made significant investments in NIL contracts, but the team’s performance fell short, accumulating a disappointing 12-13 record in the ACC.
New England Patriots: Starting New Chapter in 2024
After an illustrious 24 seasons, six Super Bowl victories, and an impressive 69% winning rate, the New England Patriots are preparing to introduce a new head coach next season. However, the Patriots faced considerable challenges in their final season under the leadership of future Hall of Famer Bill Belichick. Ending with a disappointing 4-13 record, they landed at the bottom of the AFC East while averaging just 13.9 points per game, the second-lowest in the NFL. The quarterback duo of Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe struggled, collectively throwing 16 touchdowns but also 21 interceptions.
Although the defense performed slightly better, allowing close to the league average of 21.5 points per game, the Patriots failed to send a representative to the recent Pro Bowl.
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