Matt Patricia is reaching back to his New England Patriots roots for the Detroit Lions' new defensive coordinator.
The Lions are hiring Philadelphia Eagles defensive backs coach Cory Undlin to run their defense, ESPN reported Monday.
Undlin spent the last five years with the Eagles, but got his start in the NFL as a defensive assistant with the Patriots in 2004, the same year Patricia entered the league as a coaching assistant in New England.
The Lions beat the Eagles for one of their three wins this season, and before the game Patricia referenced his friendship with Undlin and the mix of coverages they use in the secondary.