As expected, new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is targeting some of his former assistants for top coaching positions in New England. The Patriots have submitted a request to interview Dolphins outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow for their defensive coordinator vacancy, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Crow began his NFL career under Vrabel in Tennessee in 2018, when he was first hired as a defensive assistant before earning promotions to assistant special teams coach (2020) and outside linebackers coach (2021-2023). Crow did not survive Vrabel’s firing after the 2023 season, but quickly landed a similar gig in Miami under new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver,
The Titans consistently fielded a solid run defense under Crow during his tenure. He was able to bring some of that success to the Dolphins, who ranked ninth in rushing yards and touchdowns allowed in 2024. Miami’s pass rush was less effective, ranking 27th with 35 sacks, though first-round pick Chop Robinson was responsible for six in a solid rookie season.
Crow would take over a Patriots defense that allowed the 11th-most points and yards in the NFL during the regular season. New England forced just 12 turnovers (tied for second-fewest) and surrendered at least 28 points on seven different occasions.
Crow’s first order of business will be evaluating and refurbishing a New England roster lacking elite talent on the defensive side of the football. 2023 first-round pick Christian Gonzalez is a budding star at cornerback, but Christian Barmore, the defense’s highest-paid player, ended the season on the non-football injury list. The Patriots are entering the offseason with the most cap space in the NFL, per OverTheCap, but they will need to address their anemic offense as well. Vrabel and Crow will have their work cut out for them to return New England to the defensive standard established under Bill Belichick.