Eliot Wolf Hints Patriots Already Operating Better Without Jerod Mayo

The New England Patriots' 2024 campaign was certainly disappointing, but that can be expected amid a coach's first season behind an NFL bench. Fast forward to now when the inexperienced Jerod Mayo has been booted out of town, and replaced by the much more proven Mike Vrabel. 

Even though the ink on Vrabel's contract is still wet, it hasn't taken the former Patriots player long to impress the fanbase. In fact, the linebacker-turned-coach's early tenure has gone well enough that one front-office executive is already singing his praises. 

Patriots News: Eliot Wolf Praises Mike Vrabel's Plans

Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf has recently been spending a lot of time with Vrabel and VP of player personnel Ryan Cowden.

Even though the trio is still adjusting to the new work environment, the 42-year-old executive couldn't be happier with how the relationship is developing. 

"It's been awesome. We're getting to know each other a little bit," Wolf told Patriots.com's Evan Lazar. "The thing I like about it is, it's very focused and intentional. (Coach Vrabel) knows exactly what he wants... He can talk through every position really well. He's already detailed about what he's looking for, so that makes our jobs easier."

The fact that Wolf is happy that Vrabel "knows exactly what he wants" is fairly telling. Mayo's 2024 coaching staff featured seven rookie coaches and coordinators, meaning the first-year bench boss had to rely on Wolf and the rest of the Patriots front office for frequent help. 

That hasn't been an issue for Vrabel, who garnered plenty of experience and connections from his six seasons coaching the Tennessee Titans. One of those connections he created on the Titans was with Cowden, who also dealt with the franchise's player personnel for six seasons before being promoted to interim general manager in 2022. 

Even though it's been a few years since the duo worked together, Cowden is certain that Vrabel's arrival will have a positive impact on New England's culture. 

"Everything with Coach Vrabel and what he's going to impart to his staff is about the effort and the finish," Cowden said. "It sounds simplistic, but it does make a difference. It's going to be about investing in the players and developing their skills."

Hopefully, Vrabel and Cowden can have a similar impact in New England as they did in Tennessee. The Titans made the playoffs in three of the six seasons they worked alongside each other, including two AFC South titles and an AFC Championship Game appearance. 

For comparison, the Patriots have two playoff appearances without a win in the last six seasons and haven't qualified for the postseason since 2021. 

Hopefully, the Patriots' three-headed beast is the presence they need to return to the playoffs next season. We'll have a better idea of what Vrabel, Cowden, and Wolf have in store for the team when free agency begins in March. 

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