The New England Patriots have named Mike Vrabel as their next head coach.
The team announced the hire Sunday morning. It’s been a week since Patriots owner Robert Kraft fired Jerod Mayo after the team’s final win of the season against the Buffalo Bills and finished his lone season as coach at 4-13.
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, former Houston Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson also interviewed for the job.
But Vrabel, a fan favorite during his eight seasons as a player in New England, was one of the first three Super Bowl winners and a 2023 inductee into the team’s Hall of Fame. He achieved franchise and coaching success during his six seasons in Tennessee.
In hiring Vrabel, 49, Kraft is turning to another former Patriots defensive standout who, like Mayo, built a reputation as a coach for his ability to relate to players.
But Mayo, who worked as an assistant under longtime Patriots coach Bill Belichick, was a first-time head coach and struggled to get results from a young roster led by rookie quarterback Drake Maye. Explaining Mayo’s firing, Kraft said he thought he had found Belichick’s replacement, but now believes Mayo is not ready to be an NFL head coach.
But in Vrabel’s case, he arrived with a stellar head coaching resume, with an overall record of 56-48 at Tennessee from 2018 to 2023. This includes a 2-3 record in the playoffs and an appearance in the 2019 AFC Championship Game. Advancing to the postseason for the third time in a row.
Vrabel served as a consultant for Cleveland this season, but his contract has expired, leaving him open to talks with other teams. He also interviewed with the New York Jets.
The lure of New England won out, and now he’ll look to rebuild the franchise he’s been most associated with during his NFL career.
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