The New England Patriots, after more than two decades of stability, are now looking for their third coach in three seasons. With that process now well underway, Mike Vrabel has emerged as the favorite to land the job.
ESPN insider Adam Schefter shared some insight into the Patriots job on Get Up. There, he explained that Vrabel is the favorite, but that it’s not his job yet as the interviewing process continues along the way for New England.
“Mike Vrabel returns to New England today interviewing with the New England Patriots in person,” Schefter said. “Obviously, he is a, if not the, favorite for that job, but the Patriots are also scheduled to speak virtually with Ben Johnson on Friday. They’re trying to line up an interview with Aaron Glenn. We’ll see if that happens, but I think Vrabel remains a, if not the, favorite.”
Even before New England dismissed previous head coach Jerod Mayo, there were rumors that Mike Vrabel had some interest in the job. Since moving on from Mayo, it’s become clear that the interest is mutual. That does make some sense, given that he played for the Patriots and has experience as an NFL head coach.
Vrabel’s playing career lasted from 1997 to 2010. He began with the Pittsburgh Steelers and finished up with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, from 2001 through 2008, he was a star in New England, winning three Super Bowls and being on the unbeaten regular season team in 2007 on some of Bill Belichick‘s best defenses. He is also in the New England Patriots Hall of Fame.
After his retirement, Vrabel got into coaching and, by 2018, he became the head coach of the Tennessee Titans. There, his teams generally performed well and he took the Titans to the playoffs three seasons in a row but back-to-back losing seasons in 2022 and 2023 cost him that job. Now, he appears to want to get back into being a head coach. Aside from New England, Vrabel has had interviews with several NFL teams including the New York Jets and Chicago Bears. Other teams, like the Las Vegas Raiders, have also been suggested as a good fit for him.
For New England, it’s vital to get this coaching hire correct. Quarterback Drake Maye is coming off a promising rookie season and now is looking to take the next step forward as a franchise quarterback while the six-time Super Bowl champions rebuild their team around him.
