New England Patriots Hire Former Super Bowl Champ Mike Vrabel as Next Coach
Patriots Remove Candidate from Bears’ Head Coaching Vacancy
(AP) — The New England Patriots have hired Mike Vrabel as their next head coach, removing a candidate the Bears had interviewed for their own head coaching vacancy.
Patriots’ Search for New Coach
The Patriots announced the hiring Sunday morning. It comes a week after Patriots owner Robert Kraft fired Jerod Mayo after the team’s season finale victory over the Buffalo Bills to finish 4-13 in his lone season as coach.
Bears’ Head Coaching Search
The Bears completed an interview with Vrabel last week, the team confirmed, one of several they’ve completed virtually with candidates so far. In the latest Bears head coaching development, the Chicago Tribune reported they will interview Ron Rivera at Halas Hall on Sunday, according to NFL sources.
Patriots’ Coaching Candidates
The hiring of Vrabel also eliminates Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, perhaps the hottest head coaching candidate of this cycle, from the Patriots job. New England also interviewed Johnson, and the Bears confirmed Saturday that they have, as well.
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and former Houston Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton also interviewed for the New England job.
Vrabel’s Coaching Background
But Vrabel, a fan favorite during eight seasons as a player in New England where he was a member of its first three Super Bowl winners and an inductee into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2023, was the preferred candidate because of his long association with the franchise and coaching success during his six seasons in Tennessee.
In hiring the 49-year-old Vrabel, Kraft is turning to another former Patriots defensive standout who, like Mayo, built a reputation as a coach for his ability to relate to players.
Vrabel’s Coaching Success
In hiring the 49-year-old Vrabel, Kraft is turning to another former Patriots defensive standout who, like Mayo, built a reputation as a coach for his ability to relate to players.
But Mayo, who served as assistant under former longtime Patriots coach Bill Belichick, was a first-time head coach and struggled to get results from a young roster led by rookie quarterback Drake Maye. In explaining Mayo’s dismissal Kraft said while he thought he’d identified the successor to Belichick, that in hindsight he now believes Mayo wasn’t quite ready to be an NFL head coach.
New England Patriots linebackers Mike Vrabel (50) and Junior Seau (55) talk as they stretch before football practice begins at Sun Devil Stadium on the Arizona State University campus in Tempe, Ariz., Thursday afternoon, Jan. 31, 2008. The Patriots play the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz., on Sunday. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
Vrabel’s Coaching Resume
In Vrabel’s case, however, he arrives with a head coaching resume burnished by a 56-48 overall record in Tennessee from 2018 to 2023. That includes a 2-3 record in the playoffs and AFC championship game appearance in 2019 as part of a run of three straight postseason berths.
Vrabel served in a consultant role with Cleveland this season, but his contract expired, allowing him to speak with other teams. He also was interviewed by the New York Jets.
Conclusion
The Patriots have hired Mike Vrabel as their next head coach, removing a candidate from the Bears’ head coaching vacancy. Vrabel arrives with a strong coaching background and a long association with the Patriots franchise. He will look to rebuild the team and lead them to success in the future.
FAQs
Q: Who is Mike Vrabel?
A: Mike Vrabel is a former NFL player and coach who has been hired as the head coach of the New England Patriots.
Q: What is Vrabel’s coaching background?
A: Vrabel has coached in the NFL for six seasons, including five seasons as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans. He has a 56-48 overall record and has led his teams to three straight postseason berths.
Q: Why did the Patriots hire Vrabel?
A: The Patriots hired Vrabel because of his long association with the franchise and his coaching success during his time in Tennessee. He is also a fan favorite and has a strong reputation as a coach who can relate to players.
Q: What does this mean for the Bears?
A: The Bears had interviewed Vrabel for their head coaching vacancy, but he has now been hired by the Patriots. The Bears will continue their search for a new head coach and will likely interview other candidates in the coming days.
