Patriots hire special teams coordinator whose unit flopped with Rams

Head coach Jerod Mayo has filled another vacancy within his coaching staff. 

The New England Patriots have hired Jeremy Springer as the team's new special teams coordinator, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Wednesday. Springer, who spent the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, will replace former coordinator Cam Achord. 

Before joining the Rams, Springer spent eight years coaching at the collegiate level with Texas A&M, Marshall and Arizona. 

The Patriots' special teams unit has had its struggles over the past two seasons. This season, they ranked 28th in DVOA and rookie kicker Chad Ryland led the league with nine missed field goals. Meanwhile, the Rams' special teams ranked last in kickoff return average (16.1), punt coverage (15.5), points allowed (14) and blocked kicks (three).

The hiring of Springer is New England's first effort to revamp the special teams unit. The shifting started with assistant special teams coach Joe Houston leaving to take a position with the University of Florida. 

Achord's status with the team is unknown. He has been with New England since 2018, but his contract expired at the end of the season. There is also uncertainty surrounding the status of Troy Brown, New England's wide receiver and kick returner coach, as the Patriots are still searching for an offensive coordinator.