Report: Eagles add former Bill Belichick assistant to defensive coaching staff

By Reuben Frank • Published February 13, 2026

The Eagles are adding former pro lacrosse player and Bill Belichick assistant Mike Pellegrino to their defensive coaching staff, according to Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com.

According to Zenitz, Pellegrino will work with Eagles defensive backs, although his exact title remains unknown.

He’s the Eagles’ fifth new assistant coach added since the end of the 2025 season.

Pellegrino joins Joe Kasper, who served the last two years as Eagles safeties coach and was promoted to defensive backs coach two weeks ago after previous d-backs coach Christian Parker left after two years under Vic Fangio to become Cowboys defensive coordinator.

Pellegrino’s background is with cornerbacks, so it would make sense if he’s the new cornerbacks coach. Roy Anderson served as cornerbacks coach the last two years, and his status is unknown.

Pellegrino, 32, starred in lacrosse at Johns Hopkins after an all-state football career at Connetquot High on Long Island, N.Y. He played two years of pro lacrosse for the New York Lizards and Boston Cannons of the Major League Lacrosse League.

"Grew up, always loved football. Was always a football guy, (but I) grew up in Long Island, so I gravitated toward lacrosse,” Pellegrino said in a 2019 interview with the Providence Journal. "My dad played lacrosse, so I was good at good but was a better lacrosse player.

"Got an opportunity to play for Dave Pietramala at Johns Hopkins. It’s hard to say no to that. That guy has done a lot for me. I’m grateful I made that decision. Then, getting the opportunity to intern (with the Patriots) and then work here, I mean, it’s like a dream come true.”

Pietramala is close friends with Belichick, so an important connection was made while Pellegrino was still in college.

He joined Belichick and the Patriots as a coaching intern in 2015 and then was promoted to cornerbacks coach in 2019 and worked under defensive coordinator and future interim Eagles DC Matt Patricia from 2015 through 2018. 

The Patriots won two Super Bowls while Pellegrino was on the staff, beating the Falcons in Super Bowl LI after the 2016 season and the Rams in Super Bowl LIII after the 2018 season. He was on the Patriots’ staff when the Eagles beat New England in Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis after the 2017 season.

After the 2024 season in New England  under head coach Jerod Mayo, Pellegrino left the Patriots and spent this past year coaching nickel corners under former Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott in Buffalo.

Pellegrino is the Eagles’ first new defensive coach we know about it and their fifth new coach overall, joining offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, passing game coordinator Josh Grizzard, offensive line coach Chris Kuper and running game coordinator and tight ends coach Ryan Mahaffey. 

The Eagles led the NFL in lowest opposing completion percentage and fewest opposing touchdown passes under Parker last year.

https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/mike-pellegrino-defensive-staff-eagles-joe-kasper/714404/