The New England Patriots can’t make this official until after current defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is named the head coach of the Detroit Lions, but Football Scoop reports that Ohio State defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Greg Schiano will be named Patricia’s replacement.

Schiano is the former head coach of Rutgers where he coached Patriots Devin McCourty and Duron Harmon. He was also the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

This would be a huge shock since linebackers coach Brian Flores is considered a rising star waiting in the wings and was the presumed heir to Patricia. Flores interviewed for the head coaching role for the Arizona Cardinals.

Many assumed Schiano would join the Patriots defensive staff in an assistant capacity and as an assistant head coach, but this move would have big implications for Flores. If Schiano is the defensive coordinator, that stalls Flores’ trajectory to Patriots defensive coordinator for at least another couple seasons and incentivizes him to leave as soon as possible if he wants to continue to climb the coaching ranks.

We’ll see if this report comes true.

UPDATE: Fox Sports’ Bruce Feldman reports that Schiano becoming the Patriots defensive coordinator is not final, yet.

Saw the report that Greg Schiano is leaving #OhioState for the #Patriots DC job. Am told Schiano hasn't decided whether he's leaving OSU yet. Brian Flores may get promoted to DC in New England. Schiano could have a job on the Pats staff w/ Belichick but still hasn't decided. — Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 5, 2018

According to Feldman, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick still hasn’t decided on whether to promote Brian Flores to defensive coordinator or to give the job to Schiano. Schiano could still join the Patriots staff in a different capacity.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Flores become the defensive coordinator, for Josh Boyer or Steve Belichick to become linebackers coach, and then for Schiano to become either cornerbacks or safeties coach and assistant head coach. We’ll see how this plays out.