Former Alabama safety Vinnie Sunseri expected to join Washington staff

Steve Belichick isn’t the only former Patriots assistant joining the Washington football staff. Former New England running backs coach Vinnie Sunseri is also joining the Huskies program, according to Bruce Feldman.

It is unclear what role Sunseri will have with Washington. He coached running backs for the Patriots the past three seasons, after previously working in a defensive support staff role with New England.

Vinnie Sunseri played college football at Alabama, starring as a safety for the Crimson Tide. He was eventually drafted in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft.

Sunseri was drafted by the Saints and spent two seasons in New Orleans. He then spent time with the Patriots and 49ers in 2016, before ending his playing career.

The Tuscaloosa native got his coaching start as a grad assistant at Alabama in 2019. He then spent the past four seasons in New England.

Now, Sunseri is joining a Washington staff that received a makeover this offseason.

Jedd Fisch was hired to lead the Washington program in January. Fisch, Sunseri and Belichick all worked together as in New England. Fisch was the quarterbacks coach for the Patriots in 2020, prior to being hired as the head coach at Arizona.

Fisch spent three seasons with the Wildcats, leading Arizona to a 10-3 season in 2023. He was then hired to Washington to replace Kalen DeBoer, who left for the Alabama job.

More on Washington being expected to hire Steve Belichick as defensive coordinator

The news of Vinnie Sunseri reportedly joining the Washington staff broke about 12 hours after it was revealed that Steve Belichick will reportedly serve as the defensive coordinator for the Huskies.

Belichick spent the last 12 years on staff at New England, working for his father Bill Belichick. Belichick and the Patriots parted ways following the 2023 season.

The tie to the Washington staff for Belichick is that time in New England. Current Washington coach Jedd Fisch spent the 2020 season working as the quarterbacks coach for the Patriots, where he would have developed some level of familiarity with Belichick and his work.

Belichick served in a few different capacities during his time with the Patriots.

He started as a defensive assistant for the organization in 2012, holding that post until 2015. He was then promoted to safeties coach in 2016 and had that job for three years. In 2019 he added secondary duties in addition to safeties.

Finally, Belichick was moved to outside linebackers coach in 2020, where he served until 2023 when the staff was turned over.