At 2:52 PM EST, Jim McBride of the Boston Globe reported today that Patriots co-offensive line coach Cole Popovich won’t be with the Patriots in 2021 — but there wasn’t any explanation of why.
NEW: Cole Popovich will not be coaching with the #Patriots this season according to a league source. He had served as a co-offensive line coach in 2020 but Carmen Bricillo will handle those duties alone in 2021. https://t.co/TYVMTreYFW
— Jim McBride (@globejimmcbride) July 23, 2021
But, just an hour later, Mike Reiss of ESPN tweeted, saying that Popovich won’t be with the team this upcoming season due to the COVID-19 vaccine and NFL guidelines — also saying that Cameron Bricillo, the other co-OL coach, takes on the role of being the head offensive line coach.
Patriots co-OL coach Cole Popovich won’t be with the team in 2021 in a decision related to the COVID-19 vaccine and NFL guidelines, per league sources. @globejimmcbride 1st reported Popovich won’t be with the team.
Carmen Bricillo, co-OL coach in ‘20, takes on leading role.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) July 23, 2021
Popovich, who is related to five-time NBA Champion Gregg Popovich, isn’t the only coach who has left their team due to COVID-19 guidelines. On Friday, reports stated that the Vikings and assistant coach Rick Dennison parted ways because he was unwilling to get the vaccine.
(Photo of Popovich during 2018 Super Bowl/Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)