The Patriots did not wait for ‘Black Monday’ to arrive when making the decision to fire Jerod Mayo. His tenure as head coach ended after only season, and New England is now one of five teams in need of a new coach. 
Interview requests have started coming out, and the Patriots are set to meet with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. The most sought-after candidate in the 2025 cycle will have a number of other suitors, but the Patriots have of course been heavily linked to Mike Vrabel. The former New England linebacker is, to no surprise, considered the top name to watch as the team’s search takes place.
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Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston notes it is “safe to presume” Vrabel is the top option for the Patriots as they seek out Mayo’s replacement. Meanwhile, Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal adds six executives from around the league believe Vrabel will wind up being hired by New England. The former Titans coach spent much of the 2024 campaign as a consultant with the Browns, but his contract recently expired, leaving him free to interview with interested teams.
That has already seen Vrabel meet with the Jets, a team which has expressed interest in adding experience on the sidelines and in the front office. Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager reports that interview went “very well,” and the Patriots could have competition from inside and outside the AFC East as a result. The Saints have been named as a team to watch regarding a Vrabel interview, while the presence of Tom Brady fueled a recent report stating the Raiders’ top option to replace Antonio Pierce would be Vrabel. At this point, though, Pierce remains in place as Vegas’ coach.
Vrabel played 14 years in the NFL, including eight with the Patriots. The three-time Super Bowl champion is held in high regard by owner Robert Kraft and New England’s front office; as such, connections have long been made between the two. Vrabel, 49, was in charge of the Titans from 2018-23 in a stretch which included Coach of the Year honors in 2021.
Tennessee reached the playoffs three straight seasons under Vrabel, but the last two years of his tenure resulted in a combined record of 13-21. Brian Callahan was brought in last offseason as a replacement, and while the Titans bottomed out to the point of landing the top pick in the upcoming draft he appears safe to coach at least one more year. Given the relative dearth of known commodities in the 2025 coaching cycle, Vrabel’s stock remains high.
It will be interesting to see if the Mayo firing is quickly followed by a serious Vrabel pursuit. Kraft could be cautioned against bringing in another ex-player in the wake of Mayo’s struggles, but for now it would come as no surprise if he were to take that route again.
So the only other teams interested in Vrabel are the Jets and Raiders? Not good company to be in. Do the right thing and hire Ben Johnson. Kraft needs to stop hiring his buddies
Vrable was 54-45 with 3 playoff appearances and one AFC championship appearance with Tennessee
Not only would the Titans absolutely love to have that guy back, but the Patriots wanted to hire him last year and had to hire someone else based on their looks to meet some weird quota hidden rule
well in truth, Kraft promised the job to Mayo to keep him from interviewing with other teams, of course this happened BEFORE Vrabel got fired by TN. Vrabel would have gotten the job last year if it wasnt promised to Mayo.
In a terrible division the entirety of the time after Andrew Luck turned in his retirement papers. So he was nine games over .500 in the same division as the train wreck Texans and Jaguars of that time period.
Considering the fact that Jim Nantz followed up his game time announcement of Mayo’s firing with this exact notion on national television, I’d say that it’s a popular sentiment.
No way!! really????????? (All sarcasm intended)
I don’t think he’s the right pick, but it makes all the sense in the world. Mr. Kraft loves his guys. It’s a wonderful quality to the man, but I don’t think vrabel is a particularly good coach. But hey, as a bills fan, I hope he gets the job!
If at first you don’t succeed, hire another former Patriots linebacker?
He could give Rex Ryan a turn…
I “have” to like Vrabel as a Steeler fan; many forget that he played a few solid years in Pittsburgh before they let him get away to New England.
But I also legitimately think he’s a solid head coach who did an overall credible job in Tennessee. I’m just not at all sure that New England is the best fit for him at this time.
Is Bruschi available?
How about Gronkowski? It might not be good, but it would be entertaining. If that guy can’t get you hyped up to play there’s something wrong with you.
Don’t do it Mike. Stay clear of homecoming folly which can too often lead to unrealistic expectations.
If Saints are offering, take it. Keep Carr for another yr or 2. Hand pick your younger future QB; whether it’s by draft, FA or trade. Get your guy. Don’t inherit someone else’s guy.
I kept banging the drum last yr for Vrabel to get the Raiders job .. But now I’m thinking Patriots or Ohio St is his dream job .. Looks like Days not getting the axe , so take it ..
So, Vrabels name is highly thought of because the rest of the candidates, other than Ben Johnson, pretty much suck….wow, that’s some logic for an owner to spend $$$ millions on to head his team for the next several years….
Nobody thinks that except you.
I can’t wait to see this go terribly.
The irony is Vrabel ended the Patriots dynasty beating them in the playoffs and Brady left that offseason.