Announcement of NFL Coach of the Year award

Patriots Negotiate With Mike Vrabel, Hall of Fame Linebacker, for Head Coach Role

Jan 11, 2025, 10:54 PM

The New England Patriots have entered into contract negotiations with Mike Vrabel to become their next head coach, according to multiple reports. Vrabel, a former linebacker for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008 and a member of their Hall of Fame, has been a leading candidate since the team parted ways with Jerod Mayo. The negotiations, involving Robert Kraft and Vrabel's agent, follow Vrabel's interview with the Patriots, and he remains the favored choice for the position. The Patriots have also interviewed other candidates, including Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Byron Leftwich, and Pep Hamilton, but Vrabel's familiarity with the organization and his successful tenure as head coach of the Tennessee Titans, where he achieved a 54-45 record, won two AFC South titles, and was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2021, make him a top choice. The team is looking to turn around their performance after finishing with a 4-13 record last season, with quarterback Drake Maye and $130 million in cap space available for rebuilding.