The least-suspenseful coaching hire in the NFL this year is finally official after ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Sunday, January 12 the New England Patriots have “reached a multi-year agreement” with Mike Vrabel.
Homecoming: Mike Vrabel and the Patriots reached a multi-year agreement to make him New England’s next head coach, per sources.
Vrabel now is the seventh individual to become the head coach for a franchise he once helped win a Super Bowl as a player, joining Jerod Mayo, Bart…
It means the former Tennessee Titans boss, who won three Super Bowls as an outside linebacker for the Patriots under Bill Belichick, takes over from another ex-player, Jerod Mayo. Vrabel was long-considered the favorite for the job and even appeared to be positioning himself to take over.
Now Vrabel’s got what he wants and must set about rebuilding a team that’s gone 4-13 in each of the last two seasons. Fortunately, the presence of dynamic young quarterback Drake Maye, as well as ample funds under the salary cap, makes this job an attractive proposition for an experienced coach and proven winner.
Yet, some might wonder if the Pats wasted the chance to make a completely clean break from the Belichick era.
Mike Vrabel Has Plenty to Work With
Vrabel is back in familiar surroundings with plenty of building blocks already in place. Building blocks like Maye, the third-overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft who’s already drawn comparisons with Buffalo Bills Pro Bowler Josh Allen.
Aside from Mayo, The 33rd Team depicted how Vrabel will inherit All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez, $125 million worth of cap space and the fourth pick in this year’s draft.
It’s easy to see what drew Vrabel back to his old stomping ground. The franchise Hall of Famer also has a good relationship with owner Robert Kraft, who will welcome Vrabel’s proven track record.
Mayo didn’t have one of those as a rookie head coach taking the top job after being inside linebackers coach. The 38-year-old’s inexperience showed amid mixed messages and poor habits following defeats, actions that undermined team culture.
Vrabel had the Titans competitive because he oversaw tough, hard-nosed teams that went 54-45. He earned three playoff berths, and also reached the AFC Championship Game in the 2019 season. His players were aggressive, but observed the fundamentals in a way the Patriots rarely did on Mayo’s watch.
Those traits also served Vrabel well as a player, according to Schefter’s colleague Mike Reiss. The latter noted how “Vrabel was credited by head coach Bill Belichick for his fundamentals, commitment to team success, toughness, leadership, situational awareness and intelligence, among other things. Vrabel’s Titans teams mostly reflected that, with his command of game management — which include many things learned from Belichick — among the areas that impressed Kraft.”
While the Belichick blueprint worked for Vrabel, continuing to stick to it risks keeping the Patriots locked in the past.
Hiring Another Former Bill Belichick Player a Risk for Patriots
Six Super Bowl wins made Belichick’s tenure a glorious one, but things unravelled rapidly once quarterback Tom Brady left town in 2020. Brady immediately won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Belichick began a four-year run of three losing seasons and just one playoff appearance.
The 72-year-old might be content to blame other things for his decline, but the Patriots became less and less competitive while still tethered to Belichick’s way of doing things. It’s the same way Vrabel has operated, so his final two seasons with the Titans, when he went 7-10 and 6-11, should concern Pats fans.
So should Vrabel possibly hiring another former Belichick assistant for a prominent role. Josh McDaniels is expected “to be in the mix” to replace Alex Van Pelt as offensive coordinator, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
McDaniels is a familiar and popular name, but like Belichick, he did his best work with Brady.
The Patriots had the chance to change the picture completely for Maye. Perhaps by hiring a young “offensive mastermind” to take over. Instead, Kraft has gone with more of what he knows, hoping things will work out differently than they did for Mayo.
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Patriots Make Mike Vrabel Decision Official: Report