Updating an earlier tweet, ESPN's Chris Mortensen now has a full report saying New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien has agreed to become Penn State's next head football coach, replacing Joe Paterno who was fired on Nov. 9 in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
Further...
The Nittany Lions plan to make the move official with an announcement Saturday, the sources said.
Terms of the deal are unknown.
Meanwhile, CBS Sports' Mike Freeman reports a Patriots team source has confirmed the move to him, and he says an announcement could come as early as Friday. Mark Wogenrich of the Allentown Morning Calll quotes Penn State sports information director Jeff Nelson as saying "We will comment when we name the new coach."
The reports come just over an hour after acting athletic director David Joyner, leader of Penn State's six-person search committee, talked to Penn State broadcaster Steve Jones at halftime of the Penn State-Purdue game Thursday evening and said the group is still talking to candidates about the job.
O'Brien's Patriots are a top seed in the AFC playoffs and will open their postseason next weekend at home after taking a first round bye. The 42-year old Dorchester, Mass. native has experience in the college ranks as an assistant at Brown (his alma mater), Georgia Tech, Maryland and Duke in addition to his professional experience with the Patriots.
For the latest on the Penn State coaching search, stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh.