After just one season leading the franchise, the New England Patriots determined that Jerod Mayo was not the right person to lead the team on the field moving forward.
Even before the decision to let go of Mayo was officially announced, there was speculation that one former Patriot was the clear front-runner for the gig. That speculation became reality on Sunday, as it was announced that Mike Vrabel is set to become the next head coach of the New England Patriots.
Homecoming: Mike Vrabel and the Patriots reached a multi-year agreement to make him New England’s next head coach, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 12, 2025
Vrabel now is the seventh individual to become the head coach for a franchise he once helped win a Super Bowl as a player, joining Jerod Mayo, Bart… pic.twitter.com/LR3cpdHNQf
Vrabel and the Patriots have agreed on a multi-year deal, bringing him back to the place where he spent the majority of his NFL career. Vrabel played linebacker for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008 and was part of three Super Bowl-winning teams.
He returns to Foxboro with head coaching experience under his belt, as he previously served as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2018-2023. He led the Titans to the AFC title game in 2019 and was named the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year in 2021.
The Patriots are looking for someone who can quickly turn things around, especially given that they have a franchise quarterback in place. Former UNC football star Drake Maye will now have his second coach in as many seasons, as the hope is that the combination of Vrabel and Maye could be the next great duo to lead New England back to being a perennial Super Bowl contender in the very near future.
It will be interesting to see how Vrabel fills out his coaching staff, one that will play a significant role in the continued development of Maye. Coming off a strong rookie season, Maye still has room to grow, as the right personnel can help take him, and the Patriots as a whole, to the next level.