NFL News: Patriots’ next head coach could be a former player who won three Super Bowl with Tom Brady

The New England Patriots no longer have a head coach, but they could find a new one in a veteran who was recently working as a coach for an NFL team and also has extensive experience as a player, having won multiple Super Bowls alongside Tom Brady.

According to a report from Aditi Kinkhabwala, Mike Vrabel is the former NFL player who could take the reins of the Patriots, as he may have used his alleged talks with the Jets as a facade to pressure New England into parting ways with Mayo.

Vrabel wasn’t working as a head coach in 2024, but he did have a position with the Browns since March as a coaching personnel consultant, with his contract expiring in December of the previous year. It’s important to note that his last coaching role was with the Titans from 2018 to 2023.

As a head coach, Vrabel has never won a Super Bowl, but he did win the AFC South Division twice during his time with Tennessee. Additionally, he led the team to three consecutive playoff appearances between 2019 and 2021, a streak that hadn’t been achieved since 1987.

Vrabel was named Coach of the Year

During the 2021 season, when he led the Titans back to the playoffs before losing in the Divisional Round to the Bengals 16-19, he received the Coach of the Year award after finishing the season with a 12-5 record. That marked his second time with more than ten wins in a season during his tenure with the franchise. His final head coaching record when leaving Tennessee was 56-48.

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Super Bowl Championships with Tom Brady

Vrabel was a linebacker for the New England Patriots from 2001 to 2008, during which he directly worked with Tom Brady and earned three Super Bowl rings (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX). The first was against the Rams in 2002, the second against the Panthers in 2004, and the third was part of the back-to-back in 2005 against the Eagles. After leaving the Patriots, he spent a couple of seasons playing with the Chiefs from 2009 to 2010.

Vrabel’s Playing Style is Dangerous

As a linebacker, Vrabel’s playing style focused on having a strong defense and an offensive line capable of protecting the quarterback well. During his time with the Titans, his intensity on the sideline and his demanding nature with players were evident. In an interview with The Ringer, Vrabel revealed that one of his focuses is improving players in every aspect and helping them perform better. “Help them become a better player, which in turn is going to help their family make more money.”

In the same interview, Vrabel shared part of his coaching philosophy when working as a head coach. He likes his players to be prepared and well-conditioned for all situations. He also told Kevin Clark of The Ringer, “You have to protect the football, affect the other team’s quarterback, and be efficient throwing the football. And be great in situational football…”