Eagles recruiter reflects on skills learned as a Ronan athlete
courtesy photo
Anthony Patch poses for a photo with his wife Rikki and daughters Samantha, Addison and Breann after the Eagles won the Super Bowl.
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Standing on the sidelines of Super Bowl LIX, Anthony Patch of Ronan watches, feeling a sense of pride for the outstanding NFL recruiting work he’s done for the Philadelphia Eagles. The crowd roars, 73,208 fans loudly cheer as the first kick of the 2025 Super Bowl soars through the sky.
Patch, Senior Director since 2016, enters his 23rd season with the Eagles. Patch collaborates with the scouting staff, during draft preparation and is responsible for finding and analyzing the top college players across the United States.
“I worked hard from a young age, out on the local Hocker farms harvesting potatoes for four summers,” Patch recalled. “This is what really taught me dedication.”
Born and raised in Ronan, Patch reminisced about his connection to his hometown, and how growing up in the Mission Valley planted the seeds of hard work, effort and perseverance. “Growing up where I did, taught me a lot of important lessons,” he said. Patch’s mother worked at the bank while his father worked at the Job Corps to provide him a stable foundation growing up.
Patch was a star on the Ronan Chiefs wrestling and football teams, learning under the guidance of Frank Ceiz, Rusty Weiser and Jeff Rosy, men who helped prepare him for being a linebacker at Carroll College upon graduating from Ronan in 1996. “It’s the people in Ronan that really got me going,” he reflected. “The coaches I was constantly around through sports, that taught me everything I know about teamwork and accountability.”
“It all started there,” he said. “Both my wife Rikki and I are from Ronan. Montana is so unique and the Mission Valley is such a special place for us. It always will be.” He reminisced that they still have friends from the RHS class of ‘96. “It’s a place where you could go 10 years without seeing someone and you could re-start a conversation easily.” Additionally, since both of their extended families are still local, they come home to visit every chance they get. “We love Montana. It’s all about relationships.”
In fact, it’s the connection he had with St. Ignatius head coach Steve Buccaard who had previously also played at Carroll in Helena, that he was given the opportunity to do an internship with the Miami Dolphins in 2001-02 after graduating with his MBA in Missoula. After Miami, Patch began working for the Philadelphia Eagles, and has had an amazing career, participating in four Super Bowls, including last week’s win against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX.
Dedicating an extensive amount of time recruiting, he said, “You learn the most about someone when they are in the locker room. It’s the most important spot in assessing team ability; how they connect with the team.” He added; “I of course look for talent, skill, work ethic, effort and background, but also accountability, room for learning, and most importantly team-ability.”
It was an incredible season for the Philadelphia Eagles, who won 40 to 22 against the Chiefs in the LIX Superbowl. After losing to the Chiefs in 2023 LVII, 35 to 38, the Eagles came for redemption and victory was theirs.
