Longtime Patriots coach and executive Bobby Grier dies at 82

Bobby Grier, a longtime Patriots coach and government, has died. He was 82.

Grier, a local of Detroit and a graduate of the College of Iowa, spent most of his skilled profession with the Patriots, beginning as an offensive backfield coach in 1981 earlier than working his manner as much as change into New England’s vp of participant personnel from 1997-2000.

Following his time with the Patriots, he served as an government with the Texans and Dolphins.

“Bobby Grier was a person of large integrity,” Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft said in a statement. “He broke obstacles and constructed bridges, and his legacy will without end be a part of our franchise’s historical past. We’re grateful for his years of service and the impression he had on so many individuals inside our group and throughout the NFL. My ideas are together with his household and all who’re mourning his loss.”

Grier’s sons, Chris and Mike, have carried on his legacy in skilled sports activities as common managers for the Miami Dolphins (Chris) and the San Jose Sharks (Mike).

“We’re deeply saddened by the passing of Bobby Grier, father of common supervisor Chris Grier,” the Dolphins mentioned in a short assertion posted to X. “Our ideas and prayers are with the Grier household.”

After a four-year profession as a working again at Iowa, Grier turned a highschool soccer coach in Michigan in 1966. He transitioned to the school ranks in 1974, teaching at Japanese Michigan earlier than taking a job teaching working backs at Boston School from 1978-80. He was BC’s first full-time Black assistant coach.

Grier accepted a job with the Patriots in 1981 because the staff’s offensive backfield coach, and after the staff went 2-14 that season, your complete teaching employees was fired. He rejoined the Patriots as a scout in 1982 and returned to his earlier teaching position in 1985 — the 12 months the Patriots rushed for two,331 yards and the staff made its first Tremendous Bowl.

When Invoice Parcells took over as coach in 1993, he moved Grier to the personnel division because the Patriots’ director of professional scouting, and in 1995, Grier was promoted to director of participant personnel.

Grier left the Patriots after the 2000 NFL Draft — the primary below coach Invoice Belichick.

In Might of that 12 months, Grier joined the Texans, the place he labored as affiliate director of professional scouting and senior personnel adviser till his retirement in 2016.

When his son, Chris, was named GM of the Dolphins in 2016, Grier joined the staff as a guide.