Patriots' past mistake led to decision to hire Mike Vrabel as their next head coach
The New England Patriots have made a crucial decision. On Sunday, it was announced that Mike Vrabel will be taking over as the 16th head coach in franchise history. Vrabel was the frontrunner all along, and it was for a very good reason. After what happened with Jerod Mayo this past year, they needed someone […]
The New England Patriots have made a crucial decision.
On Sunday, it was announced that Mike Vrabel will be taking over as the 16th head coach in franchise history.
Vrabel was the frontrunner all along, and it was for a very good reason. After what happened with Jerod Mayo this past year, they needed someone with head coaching experience. Someone who could lead a locker room.
However, it was clear the players did respond to Mayo in some ways because he had been in their shoes. And so has Vrabel.
The Patriots conducted a total of four interviews, including Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. He is one of the most coveted candidates, but with him, it was higher risk for a potential high reward in New England. He has never been a head coach, which is the issues the Patriots had with Mayo.
In the end one thing was clear: the Patriots took a risk with Mayo, but now they needed to go for the safer option.
And considering the connections Vrabel has around the league, it's a smart one to help get New England back to the top.
How it happened
Immediately after the Patriots fired Mayo, The Athletic's Jeff Howe reported that Vrabel "has been interested in the Patriots' potential vacancy in recent weeks" and even has "some quality assistants who would be prepared to go with him if that's how it unfolds."
One of those assistants is believed to be Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator, per CBS' Jonathan Jones. McDaniels was the reason for Mac Jones' strong rookie season, so imagine what could happen if he teams up with Drake Maye.
Vrabel played for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008, winning three Super Bowls. So… Welcome Home, Vrabel!
Track record
Mike Vrabel started his coaching career for his alma mater at Ohio State between 2011 and 2013, first as a linebackers coach, then working with the defensive line.
The former NFL player moved back to the pros in 2014 to coach linebackers for the Houston Texans, and there he got a promotion to defensive coordinator in 2017.
That was enough to catch other teams' attention, and one year later he was hired as the Tennessee Titans head coach. His first choices to the offensive coordinator role were Matt LaFleur and Arthur Smith.
In Nashville, Vrabel made the playoffs three times, which included an AFC Championship Game appearance in 2019. Last offseason, changes in the leadership structure led to his firing. He spent the 2024 season as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns.
