The worst kept secret in the NFL has now been revealed.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the New England Patriots are hiring Mike Vrabel as their head coach, replacing Jerod Mayo, who was fired last week after just one season.
This had been the presumed outcome since Mayo’s departure and is probably a big reason why Robert Kraft and the Patriots let go of Mayo was because Vrabel was available.
Vrabel had been one of the hottest candidates on the coaching market this year due to his success in Tennessee. He started his head coaching career with the Titans with four straight winning seasons that included three postseason appearances. In 2021 the Titans went 12-5 and were the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Vrabel got plenty of credit for that success, and respect for him around the league didn’t dissipate too much when he had two losing seasons to end his time with the Titans.
After parting ways with the Titans in 2023, Vrabel spent 2024 as a consultant on the Cleveland Browns coaching staff with hopes of eventually becoming a head coach again. And now he is, in the place where he spent eight years of his career and won three Super Bowls.
