The New England Patriots have officially hired Mike Vrabel, former head coach of the Tennessee Titans, as their new head coach, the team announced on Sunday.
At 49, Vrabel brings a coaching record of 54-45 over six seasons with the Titans, along with a playoff record of 2-3. A former linebacker for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008, he won three Super Bowls during his playing career.
Vrabel takes over from Jerod Mayo, who was dismissed after just one season in which he led the team to a disappointing 4-13 record. Prior to this role, Vrabel served as a coaching consultant for the Cleveland Browns in 2024.
During his time with the Titans, Vrabel’s teams achieved winning records in each of his first four seasons and made three consecutive playoff appearances from 2019 to 2021, including a trip to the AFC Championship Game in 2019.
However, the Titans missed the playoffs in his last two seasons, with their win totals declining from seven to six.Vrabel was a highly sought-after candidate this hiring cycle, interviewing with teams like the New York Jets and Chicago Bears before ultimately signing with the Patriots.
Mike Vrabel began his coaching career in college with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2011 before transitioning to the NFL in 2014 as part of the Houston Texans’ defensive staff. He served as the defensive coordinator for one season in 2017 before taking over as head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
As a player, Vrabel was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997 and played there for four years before joining the New England Patriots as a free agent. During his eight seasons with the Patriots, he became a franchise legend, contributing significantly to their early dynasty and winning three Super Bowls. He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2023.
In his second head coaching role, Vrabel is expected to have a more stable quarterback situation with the Patriots, who selected Drake Maye in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Maye performed well during his rookie season. Additionally, the Patriots hold the fourth pick in the upcoming draft and have over $130 million in cap space, according to Spotrac.
Leave a Reply