11:33pm: As if the below reporting wasn’t enough indication of where this coaching search was headed, Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports confirmed that the Patriots are indeed negotiating a deal with Vrabel to become their next head coach. Schultz claims that, “barring something unforeseen, the expectation remains that both sides will reach an agreement.”
4:21pm: The Patriots seem to be well on their way to replacing one former player-head coach with another. After firing former linebacker Jerod Mayo after only one season as head coach, it appears that New England is narrowing in on another former linebacker to replace him. While it has already been established that former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel is the “heavy favorite,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that contract talks are already underway. 
In the segment, Pelissero’s colleague, Ian Rapoport, doubled down on Vrabel as the overwhelming favorite to land the job. Though he did mention that Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is under heavy consideration, as well, Rapoport reports that nobody he has connected with on the subject believes anyone other than Vrabel will be hired for the job. The new information in the segment is the bit from Pelissero that the Patriots have already started contract talks with Vrabel’s agent, indicating that a decision is well underway.
This is supported by a recent report from Dianna Russini of The Athletic, who says that, while Johnson interviewed well with New England, he plans to continue meeting with other teams. She adds that the Patriots are reportedly “pushing for a quick resolution to their HC search,” with many around the league expecting a decision this weekend. With that soon of a decision expected, it’s hard to believe New England plans on hiring anyone but the person with whom they’re already discussing a contract.
Seeing the writing on the wall, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn even declined to interview for the job in New England. Glenn’s refusal to kowtow to the Patriots’ nominal attempt to fulfill the Rooney Rule with a decision already made highlights a continuing issue with New England’s hiring process. Last year, the team circumvented the rule by having a written succession plan for Mayo to take over for Bill Belichick. This year, the team seems to be scheduling interviews just to meet the requirements — at least two interviews with a minority or female candidate — despite having allegedly already made their decision. The team has currently fulfilled that requirement with interviews of former Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton and former Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich.
Vrabel’s first stint as a head coach was widely viewed as a successful one. As a first-time head coach, Vrabel racked up a 54-45 regular season record and three consecutive postseason berths. His first trip to the playoffs resulted in a trip to the AFC Championship Game, while his next two visits were one-and-dones. He was fired by Tennessee after two consecutive losing seasons in 2022 and 2023 and served as a coaching and personnel consultant in Cleveland this year after failing to land the Chargers’ head coaching gig.
As the decision to bring on Vrabel seems to be drawing nearer and nearer, so, too, is the assumption that he will reunite Josh McDaniels with his former team. Josh Jones of CBS Sports reiterated today the prediction that McDaniels will serve as Vrabel’s offensive coordinator.
Why didn’t they just hire him last year? What a dumpster fire
Rooney Rule.
thats for interviewing although it does buy good boy points for the diversity police
The diversity police of a league a hundred percent owned and operated by white men, lol. White victimhood is funny.
Kraft supposedly had language in Mayo’s contract saying he would succeed Belichick as head coach.
then rip up the contract?
That’s only how contracts work for players.
He could have done the same thing he did this year, wrote a check and made him go away. Fact is that Kraft is a dummy that you Patriot fans are about to find out how dumb he and his son are over the next few years. He genuinely thought Mayo would be great and said so on several occasions. Identified him five years ago. Reiterated it last year when he hired him, saying he was as sure as when he hired Belichick and Parcells.
I’m most certainly not a Patriots fan.
You don’t think he could have bought out his contract? He was an assistant, so the price should have been much less than the revenue he lost with a subpar coach.
Exactly
No one needed a crystal ball to see this one coming.
Johnson is under heavy consideration? What makes Kraft and the patriots think Johnson has the same type of interest?
That’s annoying he was a guy that could turn around the Bears dumpster fire.. Oh well, guess its time to take another flyer on a coordinator who cannot be a HC.
No surprises here. This was the most obvious move of the entire off-season.
The patriot way once again .
It could be just like the Steeler way but without that one playoff appearance each year.
But wait, Poles isn’t done interviewing the whole league yet. Foul! You can’t hire guys before Pole has finished his 34 HC interviews! C’mon man.
Seriously? You think that is Poles doing? Couldn’t be McCaskey and the power hungry Warren adding all these old hats to the interview list.
Oh I definitely think it’s Poles doing. Warren and McCaskey have gone out of their way to say that Poles has the reins. Since a lot of the interviews have been done virtually they’ve been sitting in and watched, But it’s definitely the work of someone who has never hired a HC before. Which also proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Poles did not hire Eberlose. It was done for him. Only a first timer would have this many candidates. 5 would be perfect, 10 at the most but we’re at around 20. Classic case of somebody who’s afraid to miss something and will miss out on all the good candidates I’m betting.
Of course they have, they want to lay the blame on him even though it was reported by multiple outlets that McCaskey wanted to keep Eberflus after last year even though Poles wanted to pair a new coach with his new QB. And Warren was brought in to secure the stadium, which he has turned into a disaster and no is trying to encroach on football Ops. But, you keep believing that it’s Poles and Jed UncleMike, b/c most businesses let their GM’s run untethered spending at their will.
I’m scheduled to interview with the Bears the day after your interview.
I already got a job coaching the naked girls flag football team. So be my guest.
Amazing how Kraft and the Pats again play the Jets for fools.
What do you mean ? What do the Jets have to do with this ?
Vrabel wrangled an interview with the Jets to put pressure on the Patriots to hire him.
Nah he already knew that didn’t matter. That was just to make the Jets think they had a shot.
YOu really believe that? No way Kraft didn’t talk to Vrabel about this job weeks if not months ago. Shades of how he got Belichick under the table 25 years ago. Problem is that Tom Brady isn’t walking through that door.
Rooney rule be damned lmao
After seeing Vrabel coach Titans his entire stint as s season ticket holder in Nashville He will be successful for the Patriots. Biggest gripe in Nashville was his loyalty too much for his coaches. Needs to get a real good offensive coordinator and let them run offense. He is a great leader coordinator motivator. Likeable guy but needs to leave offense alone. Of course GM needs to get him some players
With the Steelers offense fizzling again tonight against the Ravens, maybe they will let go of Authur Smith and he can reunite with Vrabel?
The Patriots have become the AFC version of the Giants, running their NFL club as a corner store while most other clubs in the league are run like Walmart.
Hope you like Josh McDaniels b/c that’s who he’s bringing…
#FireWolf
Congratulations to Aaron Glenn for recognizing what his invitation to interview was and declining to play along.
They already checked that box by bringing Leftwich in.
Can we have a poll on how long it takes Vrable to lose his remaining hair trying to revive the Patriots from life support?
Kraft kisses Goodell’s *** so they’ll never be investigated let alone punished for this very clear Rooney rule circumvention.
Any other team would be under deep scrutiny from the league.