Patriots Make Bold Move Hiring Mike Vrabel as Head Coach
Mike Vrabel was always the one.
According to people familiar with the matter, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero announced Sunday that the Patriots are appointing their former Super Bowl-winning linebacker as their next head coach. The news was later announced by New England.
Since the Patriots parted ways with Jerod Mayo after a tumultuous 2024 campaign, Vrabel was considered the leading candidate to lead the team that he helped win three Super Bowls. In 2023, Vrabel was inducted into the club’s Ring of Honor. In an attempt to get better results, Robert Kraft will swap out one former Patriots player for another.
According to NFL Research, Vrabel is the only coach since 1950 to directly succeed another coach in which the two had been teammates in the NFL since Forrest Gregg succeeded Bart Starr as head coach of the Packers in 1984.
As one of the most sought-after applicants going into the 2025 coaching cycle, 49-year-old Vrabel interviewed with the Bears, Jets, and Patriots. It always seemed most likely, though, that they would return to Foxborough.
Vrabel stood out from the other coaching candidates due to his experience. The former Pro Bowl linebacker led the Tennessee Titans for six seasons, finishing with a 54-45 record and three postseason berths. With the Titans, he won Coach of the Year in 2021.
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Despite never overcoming the hump, Vrabel’s Titans teams were renowned for their perseverance and tendency to exaggerate their skill level. With a young, franchise quarterback and a lackluster roster, the Patriots are in the midst of rebuilding, thus Vrabel’s track record of encouraging overachievers to perform well will be useful in New England. He gives Foxborough the mental toughness and established standards that were absent in 2024.
The Patriots have a number of issues, but they have some excellent building bricks in Christian Gonzalez, a second-team All-Pro cornerback, and quarterback Drake Maye. This offseason, it is imperative to strengthen a terrible offensive line and acquire offensive and pass rush weapons.
With Bill Belichick gone, New England enters a crucial offseason. Step one is to make the appropriate coaching choice on the second swing.
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