The Patriots will lose their acclaimed offensive line coach to another retirement. After Dante Scarnecchia‘s return from his previous retirement coincided with three straight Patriots Super Bowls, the 72-year-old assistant will step away again, he confirmed Tuesday (via ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss). Former Patriots tight end Christian Fauria, now with WEEI, was the first to report of Scarnecchia’s intention to retire again.
Scarnecchia initially retired after the 2013 season but was coaxed back to the sidelines in 2016. The Patriots perennially field one of the league’s top offensive lines, and their longtime staffer’s presence was certainly no coincidence in that trend. Despite center David Andrews missing the entire season and left tackle Isaiah Wynn out for much of it, Scarnecchia’s latest group rated in the top 10 in Football Outsiders’ adjusted line yards and pass-protection metrics.
While Scarnecchia’s second stint in New England helped the franchise secure its fifth and sixth championships, he spent 34 years on the Pats’ staff. Scarnecchia was a Patriots assistant for 10 of their 11 Super Bowl appearances and 48 of the team’s 59 playoff games, beginning his run with the team in 1982. After a brief stay as the Colts’ O-line coach (from 1989-90, following former Pats coach Ron Meyer to Indianapolis), Scarnecchia spent most of the 1990s as the Pats’ special teams coordinator. He began serving as their offensive line coach in 1999 and held that job for the better part of the next 20 years.
“It was a privilege to coach with Dante for so long,” Bill Belichick said. “I knew that long before his initial retirement and throughout a second act of continued excellence. Dante is among the very best assistant coaches ever.”
Belichick is one of six Patriots HCs with whom Scarnecchia has worked. The Pats replaced Scarnecchia with Dave DeGuglielmo during his 2014-15 sabbatical and will again have to fill some big shoes in filling their 2020 staff.
This also marks the latest veteran coach to leave New England. The Pats lost longtime defensive assistants Matt Patricia and Brian Flores over the previous two offseasons and lost multiple offensive assistants when Flores took the Dolphins’ HC job. While Tom Brady‘s status looms as the top Patriots uncertainty heading into next season, Belichick will need to make a key hire to replace one of the few organizational fixtures whose New England arrival predates Brady’s.
Dude looks like he runs the newspaper stand at the River Styx
Dude is more successful then you’ll ever be.
I’d say so. I couldn’t even get hired as the ferryman’s shoe shine
Boom
bOoOmM
Enjoy retirement and all of the great stories!
I don’t understand. What stories? The stories people will be telling him about how much they despise the Patriots?
All successful people/organizations are despised. The ones that won it, have great stories. 10 out 11 SB trips is one heck of a story.
I don’t think you firmly grasp how much America loathes NEP.
I’m 46 and been following the NFL since the late 70’s. I think I know people’s feelings towards the Pats. They won a lot of divisions, & SB’s. This guy has earned his retirement & celebrations.
MLB doesn’t care about cheaters for the Astros & Red Sox. Why are you concerned about the Pats?
You followed the NFL at 4 and 5 years old? Real question as I’m curious. I didn’t start until about 12-13
Yes! The Steel Curtain was the reason I played D. Myself, along w/ about 10 million other kids, were envious of that 1 kid who gave Mean Joe Green a coke and in return, got his game jersey. Great commercial.
My dad was & still is a big fan of the game. We sat down on Sundays and watched football.
I think Brady will see what’s out there in fa and will see how much money is there and see if there is any fits but I think he stays with the Pats for for more year BUT if Brady cashes in on FA and leaves then Belichick retires after 2020 season. we have already see some dominoes fall , other teams picking coaches from the pats and some retiring so I think this might be belichick’s last year coaching . just my opinion
You really think money will make a difference to him? He owns a toilet made of diamonds.
He always has his wife to fall back on if times get rough
Ugh he definitely deserves retirement, but that OL was awful during his last brief retirement
This dude was one of the reasons the patriots turned nobodies into somebodies.
The man is a legendary O-line coach. The best in the opinion of coaches around the league.
Maybe the forgotten man that made the Patriots prolific winners. Him, Dick Rehbein, and Ernie Adams.
Brady will retire along with Dante.
I prefer the comment section to have a conversational aspect to it like here, but recent site changes seem to be discouraging that I think. Maybe it’s left up to the moderator to decide how much interaction is allowed.
Maybe it’s time for you to go bowling.