Troy Brown ‘fuels competitive drive’ as coach for the Patriots

For his 15 seasons in the NFL, Troy Brown had a regimented schedule. From 1993-to-2007, the Patriots receiver/returner and sometimes cornerback grew accustomed to the life as a professional athlete. It’s one where you work hard in the offseason to get your body right and then when the season comes, most of your time is accounted for getting ready for each Sunday.

From the age of 22 to 36, Brown not only got used to having his time spoken for, but he satiated his appetite for [...]

For his 15 seasons in the NFL, Troy Brown had a regimented schedule. From 1993-to-2007, the Patriots receiver/returner and sometimes cornerback grew accustomed to the life as a professional athlete. It’s one where you work hard in the offseason to get your body right and then when the season comes, most of your time is accounted for getting ready for each Sunday.

From the age of 22 to 36, Brown not only got used to having his time spoken for, but he satiated his appetite for competition. When he hung up his cleats, that drive didn’t disappear. That’s one thing about retirement that a lot of professional athletes go through.

What do you do with your free time after spending a bulk of your life working on a strict schedule? What do you do when you still have a desire to compete after being a professional athlete?

For Brown, now 49, that’s the reason he got back into the NFL as a coach with the Patriots.

"It’s part of what brought me back to it as well - that structure. That willingness to compete," Brown said on Wednesday. "Even though I cant play, I’m helping these guys get ready to compete as a coach. That kind of fuels my competitive drive there as well. The schedule itself, yeah, it’s going to demand your time. It’s been good for me to get back into it."

At the beginning of last season, Brown started to work with the Patriots in an unofficial capacity. He mainly assisted then-receivers coach Joe Judge, who split time as the team’s special teams coordinator. This year, Brown was promoted as the team’s running backs/returners coach. With his background as a receiver, he’s been able to help the Patriots running backs with their receiving skills. His career as a returner speaks for itself – he’s the Patriots all-time punt return leader (252 career returns).

Coaching, after playing, is an adjustment. It hasn’t been too hard on Brown, but he’s actually spending more time inside Gillette Stadium. He said he had to adjust to all the hours that he’s working as coaches come into the facility before the players. When players go home, coaches are still there to break down tape and work on the game plan.

This new role has also led to Brown learning more. He’s no longer focused on opposing defensive backs and trying to get open.

"I think the hours, for one thing. They’re a little different from being a player. You’re just more involved," Brown said. More involved in the game now, putting together game plans and that type of stuff. It really gets my mind going. Gets me thinking about more parts of the game than just being a receiver or returner. Now you’re just more involved in the every day planning with everything that goes on with that part of the team. It takes a little more time. But it’s been enjoyable.

"The other coaches have been great with me, working with me and teaching me a few things. Then going t running backs for me, I get more involved with the running backs now and not just knowing who’s covering you. It’s about knowing the entire defense."

Players certainly seem to enjoy being coached by Brown. This week, Gunner Olszewski said he bothers Brown a lot about the intricacies of punt returning and said he even calls him "Touchdown Troy Brown." On Wednesday, Bill Belichick even lauded Brown for the work he’s doing.

For Brown, this has been a fun journey. He came to the Patriots when the organization was in tatters. He left with three Super Bowl rings knowing he was apart of that first group to start this dynasty. Now, he’s a part of it once again.

"We kind of helped build this thing the way it is now," Brown said. "Guys who came up when I played - Ty Law, Willie McGinest, Tedy Bruschi – so many guys from those playing days. A lot of these guys now, they’re the same age as my two oldest boys. It’s pretty funny because they act just like them, too. It’s a blessing for me to be here, be a part of this organization, team and coaching these guys. I’m getting a lot of joy out of it."

mdaniels@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @MarkDanielsPJ