Robert Kugler joins the Patriots as an assistant offensive line coach after spending the 2022 and 2023 seasons in the same role for the Carolina Panthers. Kugler got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant and tight ends coach in 2017 at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). He spent two seasons (2018-19) as a graduate assistant at the University of Washington before becoming the offensive quality control coach at Appalachian State in 2020. In his sole season at Appalachian State, Kugler helped lead the Mountaineers to an average of 265.6 rushing yards per game, ranking sixth in the FBS. Kugler's first NFL job came in 2021 when he was hired as an assistant offensive line coach for the Houston Texans. Kugler played college football at Purdue (2012-15), where he was a two-time team captain and started 43 consecutive games at center. Prior to beginning his coaching career, he signed as a rookie free agent in 2016 with the Buffalo Bills and spent the offseason with the team.
