Matt Patricia has hired another assistant to his Lions coaching staff, and he has some familiar ties -- as in Patriots and Syracuse ones.

Detroit has added Steve Gregory as a defensive assistant. Gregory played wide receiver and defensive back for Patricia and many members of the staff at Syracuse and then strictly defensive back with the Patriots from 2012-2013, Patricia's first two seasons as defensive coordinator.

Gregory spent 2006-2013 in the NFL, split between the Chargers and Patriots. He was a full-time starter his final three years, including two as Patricia's safety in New England. He finished with seven career interceptions and 111 games played.

Gregory, 35, returned to Syracuse as a special teams quality control coach in 2015.

Patricia has tapped into his Syracuse and Patriots routes regularly in the process of filling out his first coaching staff in Detroit. His former head coach at Syracuse, Paul Pasqualoni, is now his defensive coordinator. Gregory is now one of seven assistants Patricia has added who have ties to Syracuse.