Bret Bielema hired as Patriots consultant

Arkansas coach Bret Bielema gets choked up as the senior players are introduced before the start of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 in Fayetteville, Ark. Bielema was fired following the Razorbacks 48-45 loss to Missouri. (AP Photo/Michael Woods) ORG XMIT: ARMW101

Arkansas coach Bret Bielema gets choked up as the senior players are introduced before the start of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 in Fayetteville, Ark. Bielema was fired following the Razorbacks 48-45 loss to Missouri. (AP Photo/Michael Woods) ORG XMIT: ARMW101

Former Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema has moved to the NFL.

Bielema was hired by the New England Patriots to serve as a consultant to head coach Bill Belichick, ESPN reported Tuesday.

Bielema bean serving as “consultant to the head coach” in June, although the hire was not announced by Belichick until this week.

ESPN reported Bielema— who was fired by Arkansas in November after five seasons— spent considerable time with special-teams during Patriots spring practices.

During his tenure at Arkansas, Bielema earned a 29-34 overall record, going 11-29 in the SEC. The Razorbacks ended last season with a 4-8 record, winning one conference game.