After two campaigns in Foxborough, Robert Kugler will be moving on to the AFC North.
The former New England Patriots assistant has been named the next tight ends coach of Pittsburgh Steelers under head coach Mike McCarthy, the organization announced Thursday.
Kugler marks the first known departure from the reigning AFC champions’ coaching staff. The 33-year-old had been hired by the Patriots as an assistant offensive line coach in 2024. And after Jerod Mayo’s lone campaign at the helm, he was retained last February by eventual AP NFL Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel to oversee the front five alongside veteran position coach Doug Marrone and fellow assistant Jason Houghtaling.
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New England’s offense finished the 2025 regular season ranked third around the league in total offense, including fourth in passing and sixth in rushing. Quarterback Drake Maye was sacked 48 times over that span before being taken down for an additional 21 from the wild card through Super Bowl LX.
Prior to heading to Gillette Stadium, Kugler worked with the Carolina Panthers’ offensive line for two years after initially entering the NFL ranks in the same capacity with the Houston Texans in 2021. He made collegiate coaching stops at UTEP, Washington and Appalachian State.
Playing football at North Allegheny High School while his father, Sean, oversaw the Steelers’ offensive line, Kugler went on to serve as a two-time captain at Purdue. The convert from tight end to center started 43 consecutive games for the Boilermakers.
He spent training camp with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted rookie in 2016.
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