Greg Schiano, hired last month as the New England Patriots defensive coordinator, stepped down Thursday, the team announced.
"This is not the result of any one event, but rather a realization that I need to spend more time on my faith and family," Schiano said in a statement. "I don't want to look back years from now and wish I had done things differently. Therefore, I am taking time away from the game to recalibrate my priorities."
Schiano was hired Feb. 6 to replace Brian Flores, the Patriots' defensive play-caller who left to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins.
"I respect Coach Schiano greatly and appreciate his contributions to our staff and team," coach Bill Belichick said in a statement. "He is a friend who we support completely."
Schiano, 52, was most recently the defensive coordinator at Ohio State. He was 11-21 in two seasons as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' head coach in 2012 and 2013 before being fired.
Schiano was 68-67 in 11 seasons as the head coach at Rutgers (2001-2011). He is a longtime ally of Belichick, whose son, Steve Belichick, was a long snapper at Rutgers.
--Field Level Media