FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) - The New England Patriots promoted Eric Mangini to defensive coordinator Saturday, succeeding new Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel.
Mangini, who was the Patriots' defensive backfield coach, was pursued by Crennel and the Miami Dolphins.
But Patriots coach Bill Belichick, playing at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament in California, told CBS-TV on Saturday that Mangini was taking over for Crennel.
"He's done a great job for us with the secondary," Belichick said. "(He has) big shoes to fill with Romeo, but Eric's a great young coach. He's been with me for a long time, he's done a great job for our football team for the last five years."
Mangini has been credited with helping the Patriots' defensive backfield overcome injuries to starting players in the team's push to their third Super Bowl victory in four years.
In a statement released by the team, Mangini said he is thrilled to be staying with the Patriots.
"The Kraft family and Bill Belichick have treated me tremendously," he said. "This team and our players are a special group and mean a great deal to me. I look forward to putting this process behind and focusing on our offseason and the new challenges ahead."
The 34-year-old Mangini has been on the Patriots' defensive staff since 2000. He was also an assistant under Belichick with the Cleveland Browns in 1995, and moved with the team to Baltimore in 1996. Between 1997-99, he worked on the New York Jets' defensive staff.
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Mangini, who was the Patriots' defensive backfield coach, was pursued by Crennel and the Miami Dolphins.
But Patriots coach Bill Belichick, playing at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament in California, told CBS-TV on Saturday that Mangini was taking over for Crennel.
"He's done a great job for us with the secondary," Belichick said. "(He has) big shoes to fill with Romeo, but Eric's a great young coach. He's been with me for a long time, he's done a great job for our football team for the last five years."
Mangini has been credited with helping the Patriots' defensive backfield overcome injuries to starting players in the team's push to their third Super Bowl victory in four years.
In a statement released by the team, Mangini said he is thrilled to be staying with the Patriots.
"The Kraft family and Bill Belichick have treated me tremendously," he said. "This team and our players are a special group and mean a great deal to me. I look forward to putting this process behind and focusing on our offseason and the new challenges ahead."
The 34-year-old Mangini has been on the Patriots' defensive staff since 2000. He was also an assistant under Belichick with the Cleveland Browns in 1995, and moved with the team to Baltimore in 1996. Between 1997-99, he worked on the New York Jets' defensive staff.
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