Ohio State is hiring former Penn State head coach and longtime NFL coach Bill O’Brien to be its next offensive coordinator, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

It’s a big-name move for coach Ryan Day, who has spent time this offseason mulling the possibility of giving up play-calling duties, according to Thamel. O’Brien brings extensive experience as a play-caller, a coordinator, and a quarterback coach. He was most recently the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. He served as Alabama’s offensive coordinator for two seasons from 2021-22 and before that he was the head coach of the Houston Texans from 2014-20.

He’s also a former Penn State head coach.

O’Brien, 54, got his start in coaching at his alma mater in 1993. He graduated from Brown in 1992, then took over as the tight ends coach in 1993. He coached inside linebackers in 1994. He then spent time at Georgia Tech (1995-2002), Maryland (2003-04), and Duke (2005-06) before joining the Patriots.

He worked his way up from an offensive assistant to the offensive coordinator in 2011. That season, Tom Brady threw for 5,235 yards — his most in a single season as a member of the Patriots.

O’Brien then replaced Joe Paterno at Penn State. He spent two years with the school before jumping back to the NFL.

In O’Brien’s seven years as the Texans’ head coach, he led four playoff runs and finished with five winning records. He was fired after a 0-4 start in 2020.

Following his dismissal, O’Brien landed in Tuscaloosa at Nick Saban’s School for Coaching Rejuvenation. In his first season (2021), he coached Bryce Young to a Heisman Trophy and helped Alabama to a College Football Playoff National Championship game appearance.

Related: Joel Klatt compares Ohio State’s 2024 outlook to 2023 Michigan

Ohio State is looking to turn its fortunes around after watching Michigan lift the national championship trophy this past season. The Buckeyes have lost three straight to the Wolverines and the offense crashed to the floor in this year’s 14-3 Cotton Bowl loss to Missouri.

The Buckeyes finished the 2023 season 25th in offensive efficiency. They were almost a full yard worse than they were in 2022, when they led the nation at 7.28 yards per play. Ohio State also led the country in per-play efficiency in 2021 and hadn’t finished a season outside the top 11 since 2016.

O’Brien figures to have plenty of talent to work with in his first year. Kansas State transfer quarterback Will Howard is joining the quarterback room. Two-time All-SEC running back Quinshon Judkins is transferring in from Ole Miss. Emeka Egbuka returns at wideout. And tailback TreVeyon Henderson returns after a 926-yard, 11-touchdown campaign.