Home Sports Mike Vrabel in negotiations to be Patriots’ next head coach: Report

Mike Vrabel in negotiations to be Patriots’ next head coach: Report

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The Patriots have hired Mike Vrabel as their next head coach. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

The Patriots have hired Mike Vrabel as their next head coach. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

The New England Patriots tried one of their former linebackers as head coach and that didn’t work out. Now they are trying another one.

Mike Vrabel has entered contract negotiations to be the next head coach of the Patriots. according to the Boston Globe. He would replace Jerod Mayo, who was fired after just one season.

The biggest difference between Vrabel and Mayo is experience. Vrabel had a 54-45 record in six seasons, including three trips to the playoffs, as head coach of the Tennessee Titans. Vrabel also has a strong connection to the Patriots. He spent eight of his 14 NFL seasons with the Patriots and was part of three Super Bowl championship teams led by Bill Belichick.

Vrabel for the Patriots seems like a good fit for a rebuilding team. When the Patriots fired Mayo after he went 4-13, it seemed like it was partly because Vrabel was available. Vrabel interviewed with the Jets on Jan. 3, and the Patriots fired Mayo a few days later. It was hard to believe that the two news stories were not related.

Vrabel is in great demand. Chicago Bears interviewed him after the Jets did. There was much speculation that the Las Vegas Raiders would be interested in signing Vrabel, given the connection between him and his former Patriots teammate Tom Brady, who is now a limited owner of the Raiders. The Patriots were obviously focused on him in their pursuit as well.

The reason Vrabel was a popular name was his time with the Titans. Vrabel began his head coaching career with four consecutive winning seasons that included three postseason appearances. In 2021, the Titans went 12-5 and were first in the AFC. Vrabel received a lot of credit for that success, and respect for him around the league didn’t dissipate too much when he had two losing seasons to end his time with the Titans.

With the Patriots, Vrabel would take over a roster that has many holes. The Patriots are 8-26 over the past two seasons. But New England has hope at quarterback after Drake Maye’s promising rookie season.

Vrabel seemed like a good fit for the Patriots last season, but the Patriots supposedly had an agreement with Mayo as Belichick’s successor. After a failed season with Mayo, Vrabel was still available. And the Patriots have chosen him as their target.

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