Safeties coach Brian Belichick and cornerbacks coach Mike Pelligrino will not be returning to the Patriots. Belichick was not retained and Pelligrino was not offered a new contract.

Arguably two of the Patriots best position coaches the last four years, Belichick and Pellegrino did a masterful job with the Patriots secondary. Unfortunately for them, with Mike Vrabel taking over, he wanted to bring in his own guys which made the two coaches expendable. 

Belichick joined the Patriots in 2016 when his father, Bill Belichick hired him as a scouting assistant. After serving in the scouting department and as a coaching assistant, Brian was promoted to safeties coach in 2020. Belichick did a good coaching the safeties and was universally respected by his players. 

Pellegrino, 31, spent the past six seasons as the cornerbacks coach. He helped Stephon Gilmore earn AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2019. He also coached J.C Jackson to an All-Pro selection in 2021 and he helped NFL Comeback Player of the Year finalist Christian Gonzalez bounce back in 2024.

Pellegrino played lacrosse at Johns Hopkins. He was an All-American and Major League Lacrosse draft choice. He started with the Patriots as a football operations intern in 2015. He won two rings in 2016 (Super Bowl) LI and 2018 (Super Bowl LIII).

Now, like Belichick, Pelligrino will be seeking employment elsewhere. The good news. Both coaches are well respected around the league and they should land on their feet.