Scott Peters Hired as Patriots Offensive Line Coach

Scott Peters is the newest member of the New England Patriots coaching staff. Peters comes over from the Cleveland Browns, where he served as assistant offensive line coach for the past four seasons. There were reports last week that former Rams and Seahawks assistant Andy Dickerson had been the focus of New England’s search for a new offensive line coach.

Peters worked with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt in Cleveland. The Browns offensive line coach during his tenure there was longtime Bill Callahan. Callahan is about as well respected of an offensive line coach as exists in the NFL, serving as a mentor to Peters over the past four seasons. Bill Callahan has since departed to join his son Brian Callahan’s staff with the Tennessee Titans.

With the Patriots hiring Ben McAdoo yesterday and reportedly targeting Browns assistant T.C. McCartney as New England’s quarterbacks coach, it appears Van Pelt is opting to hire assistants he has familiarity with. There were reports that a year ago Bill O’Brien was not allowed to pick his offensive staff for the Patriots, except for tight ends coach Will Lawing. It appears Alex Van Pelt is not having similar issues based on the hirings thus far.

Scott Peters was a fourth-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles (No. 124 overall) out of Arizona State. He appeared in seven NFL games for the New York Giants in 2003. Peters was otherwise a practice squad player during his pro career, for the Eagles, Giants, 49ers, Panthers, and Cardinals. He retired from football in 2009.

Peters discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu to help him recover from an ankle injury in 2006. He eventually opened up the Lion’s Den MMA Academy in Scottsdale, Ariz. alongside Ken Shamrock. Following his retirement from football, Peters went on to earn two world championships in submission grappling. He also helped to train UFC fighters such as Brock Lesner and Cain Velasquez for matches.

Before beginning his coaching career, Peters began Tip of the Spear Football. The company consulted football programs to teach safe football techniques, helping to limit concussions and possible exposure to CTE.

As an NFL coach, Peters continues to use jiu-jitsu techniques to help demonstrate leverage techniques. Cleveland Browns guard Wyatt Teller, who made the Pro Bowl the past three seasons with Peters’ assistance, had nothing but positive things to say about those coaching techniques.

“An absolute madman who understands the psychology of leverage, grip, and where you need your hands to do certain things,” is how Teller described Peters. “He’s talented at what he does, and it comes from his mixed martial arts background.”

Scott Peters replaces Adrian Klemm as the New England Patriots offensive line coach. Klemm spent only one season with the Patriots and was forced to miss significant time due to personal reasons. New England will be hoping for improved play from their line under Peters’ watch.