Pioli to remain at helm of Pats personnel department

FOXBORO, Mass. -- Scott Pioli, who helped build the New England Patriots teams that have won three of the last four Super Bowls, has agreed to a contract extension as the team's vice president of player personnel.

Terms of the extension that will keep Pioli with the Patriots were not disclosed.

Robert Kraft, the Patriots' chairman and chief executive, said Pioli "has done a tremendous job managing our personnel department and overseeing the draft for us."

Pioli, 40, joined the Patriots in 2000 along with coach Bill Belichick. The team won a Super Bowl title in Pioli's and Belichick's second season in New England. Since that victory, the team has repeated as Super Bowl champs two more times, including this year's 24-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

This year's win marked the first time in NFL history that a head coach and a personnel director had celebrated three Super Bowl titles in four years together, the Patriots said.

After the 2003 season, Pioli became the youngest person ever to earn the NFL Executive of the Year honors when he won at the age of 39. He won the award again in 2004.

His success has made him one of the most desirable candidates for vacant executive jobs around the NFL and several teams looking for new general managers have approached him. Pioli had always said he would not consider another job until his contract with the Patriots had expired.

Before the extension, it was due to run out after the 2006 season.