Former Alabama DB and Grad Assistant Vinnie Sunseri Joining Patriots Coaching Staff

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has a history of hand-picking young, talented assistants to start at the bottom of the ladder and work their way up, and his latest coaching addition has that same pattern written all over it.

It was reported Tuesday morning that former Alabama and NFL safety Vinnie Sunseri will join the Patriots next season as a member of their support staff. Sunseri was a two-time BCS national champion in his three seasons with the Crimson Tide, and has most recently served as a graduate assistant there under Nick Saban following a brief run in the NFL.

The Saban-Belichick connection could be the driving force behind this hire, but Sunseri's new boss has to be impressed by his football background on its own merits.

Vinnie's brother, Tino, was a three-year starting quarterback at Pitt and went on to win the CFL's Grey Cup as a pro. His father, Sal, has more than 30 years of coaching experience between college and the pros and is the incumbent defensive line coach in Tuscaloosa.

Having also played on New England's practice squad in 2016, Vinnie's new job shouldn't come as the grandest of surpises.

Vinnie Sunseri can only make so much of an impact in his current role, but before long, he'll have his chance to be another one of Belichick's trusted disciples that makes good and ends up calling plays one day.