Pat Flaherty’s time at Rutgers has come to a close. Head coach Greg Schiano confirmed Tuesday that the veteran offensive line coach won’t return for the 2026 season. Flaherty’s contract is set to expire in February, and the program has opted not to renew it.
That makes four departures from last season’s staff, as Flaherty joins defensive line coach Colin Farrell and co-defensive coordinators Robb Smith and Zach Sparber on the way out. It’s a significant shake-up for a program that’s been trying to build consistency on both sides of the ball.
Flaherty brought a wealth of experience to Piscataway, and it showed-at least early on. A two-time Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants, he took over a struggling offensive line in 2023 and immediately brought stability.
He didn’t just patch holes; he developed talent, too. One of the most notable success stories under his watch was Hollin Pierce, a former walk-on who blossomed into one of the Big Ten’s top tackles.
Pierce’s rise to the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad is a testament to the kind of development Flaherty could unlock.
Though officially named offensive line coach in 2023, Flaherty had already been around the program for two years as a consultant. He was a regular presence at practices, lending his insight and experience while advising Schiano-a coach who, fittingly, got his own start as a graduate assistant under Flaherty back in 1989.
In his first full season in charge, Flaherty’s impact was immediate. Rutgers allowed just 1.08 sacks per game, tying for 11th in the country-a massive leap forward for a unit that had struggled in previous years.
The line held steady in 2024, giving up 1.62 sacks per game (49th nationally), but things fell off in 2025. The Scarlet Knights gave up 3.17 sacks per game this past season, a number that ranked near the bottom of the FBS (tied for 125th).
That regression undoubtedly played a role in the program’s decision to move in a new direction.
Flaherty’s coaching résumé is as deep as it is decorated. Before returning to Rutgers, he hadn’t coached in the college ranks since 1999, when he was Iowa’s special teams coordinator and tight ends coach.
In the years that followed, he carved out a long and successful NFL career, most notably as the offensive line coach for the Giants during the entirety of Tom Coughlin’s tenure from 2004 to 2015. That stretch included two Super Bowl titles, and Flaherty shared those sidelines with former Rutgers walk-on Shaun O’Hara-another example of his connection to the Scarlet Knights’ broader football family.
For Rutgers, this marks another turning point in the ongoing effort to solidify its coaching staff and find consistent production in the trenches. For Flaherty, it closes a chapter that saw him return to his college roots and leave his mark on a new generation of linemen.