The New England Patriots have found their guy. They announced their decision to hire Mike Vrabel as the team’s next head coach on Sunday morning. New England parted ways with Head Coach Jerod Mayo following a 4-13 season in his lone season at the helm. Mayo was looked at as the successor to Bill Belichick, but seemed overwhelmed this season and had tough press conference moments.
Vrabel was deemed New England’s top option after firing Mayo. Vrabel has a history with the New England Patriots playing for them from 2001-2008 and won three Super Bowls as a member of the Brady-Belichick Patriots. He was also inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2023. Vrabel was fired by the Tennessee Titans last season and spent this past season as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns. Will Vrabel be able to bring success to the New England Patriots?
How Will Vrabel Fare With the New England Patriots?
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… pic.twitter.com/LR3cpdHNQf
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 12, 2025
Vrabel takes over a Patriots team that has pieces to build around. Quarterback Drake Maye showed signs of promise in his rookie campaign and Cornerback Christian Gonzalez is one of the best young players at his position. Outside of those two players, the New England Patriots have a roster devoid of talent. Vrabel will have a blank canvas as he prepares to take over the team with the most cap space this offseason at $133.5 million. That money will help Vrabel create a team in his image and overhaul the roster.
Final Thoughts
Vrabel will enter New England under massive pressure. He will be expected to recreate the success that he had as head coach of the Tennessee Titans and return the New England Patriots to the glory days he was a huge part of.
He is not the only individual to become the head coach of a team he helped win a Super Bowl for. Mayo, Jeff Saturday, and Jason Garrett are a few of the seven players who hold that distinction. The first big decision facing Vrabel as the New England Patriots head coach is what to do with the No. 4 pick in April’s NFL Draft. Vrabel is a slam dunk hire and the man New England wanted for the job. Now that he is back home in New England, success must follow for his tenure to be a lengthy one.
