The New England Patriots are in talks to hire Mike Vrabel as their next head coach, according to The Boston Globe. Vrabel is the favorite to get the job after former head coach Jerod Mayo was fired after just one season. Vrabel, a member of the Patriots’ Hall of Fame for his eight seasons with the team, won three Super Bowls with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick from 2001-2008.
Vrabel was previously the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, where he went 54-45 in six seasons, including three trips to the playoffs and one to the AFC title game. He was fired by the Titans after the 2023 season and spent 2024 in a part-time role as a coaching and personnel consultant with the Cleveland Browns.
Vrabel has also interviewed with the Jets and the Bears, and was projected to be a top head coaching candidate in 2025. He has also been considered for head coaching positions with other NFL teams. In addition to Vrabel, the Patriots have also interviewed Ben Johnson, Byron Leftwich, and Pep Hamilton for their head coach opening.
The hiring of Vrabel would bring an experienced coach to the Patriots, who have struggled in recent seasons, with an 8-26 record the past two years under Bill Belichick and then Mayo as their head coach. Vrabel’s hiring would mark a shift in the franchise’s direction, bringing in a new and experienced leader to lead the team forward.