The New England Patriots are among several teams seeking a new head coach after firing Jerod Mayo shortly after their 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 18. Their leading candidate appears to be former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, and the team has made significant progress toward hiring him. Vrabel, who was a key part of the Patriots’ defense from 2001 to 2008 and helped them win three Super Bowls, went on to have a successful run as head coach of the Titans from 2018 to 2023. During his tenure, he transformed the Titans into one of the league’s top teams, but following a roster overhaul by the front office, Vrabel was unexpectedly fired after the 2023 season. In 2024, he worked as a coaching consultant for the Cleveland Browns.
With Mayo’s departure, Vrabel has been linked with a return to New England, and the Patriots have now taken a major step toward hiring him by scheduling an interview. Ian Rapoport reported on X (formerly Twitter) that the Patriots plan to interview Vrabel for their vacant head coach position on Thursday. Vrabel, a former All-Pro and Hall of Famer for New England, is considered the front-runner for the role.
Before Mayo’s firing, there had been rumors that the team might move on from him and bring in Vrabel as a replacement. While New England must follow a formal process before offering the job, and Vrabel would need to agree to return to Foxborough, the interview is an important first step. Despite the team also interviewing former Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and former Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton on Tuesday, all eyes are on Vrabel as Patriots fans eagerly await the outcome of the interview, hopeful he could become the team’s next head coach.
