The New England Patriots’ successful season in the first year of a full rebuild with a new coaching staff enlightened the rest of the NFL as to how it can be done when the right personnel is in place. The hiring of head coach Mike Vrabel and his staff is the reason New England’s turnaround from worst to first happened as fast as it did.
As other teams take note of who is involved in the Patriots’ quick success, the assistant coaches will inevitably start to be considered for larger roles around the league, which is already happening.
Thomas Brown, Patriots passing game coordinator and tight ends coach, is a name that keeps circulating as a potential head coach or offensive coordinator candidate in this current hiring cycle for next season. Brown is the top candidate for the head coach position for the Arizona Cardinals, as they requested an interview with him from the Patriots, according to NFL reporter Cameron Wolfe.
Brown was also expected to interview for the Los Angeles Chargers’ offensive coordinator position, but they hired former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel for it, so it’s unknown if Brown even had an interview or not.
It’s worth noting that Brown can’t interview in-person with any teams while the Patriots are still competing in the playoffs, per the NFL rules. Brown is allowed to have a virtual interview of up to three hours. The in-person interviews can’t happen until after the AFC Championship Game, and if the Patriots proceed to the Super Bowl, a second interview can happen during the bye week ahead of the Super Bowl.
Mike McDaniel Joining Charges Could Keep Thomas Brown in New England
Brown doesn’t get enough recognition for the Patriots' success on offense and the improvement from quarterback Drake Maye in his second year in the NFL, as that shine usually goes to the offensive coordinator. But Brown has contributed greatly to the Patriots having the third-ranked passing offense this season.
When Vrabel was forming his coaching staff, Brown originally interviewed for the offensive coordinator position before it went to Josh McDaniels. Vrabel was so impressed with what Brown could bring to the table that he decided to hire him anyway and find a role for him.
While working with Maye and the offense, Brown’s efforts contributed to Maye totaling 4,394 passing yards and a 72.0% completion rate, which led the NFL this season.
Brown has evolved into a seasoned coach in a short amount of time. He started his coaching career in the NFL in 2020 with the Los Angeles Rams as a running backs coach and quickly became the assistant head coach for Sean McVay and played a role in their Super Bowl LVI victory.
In 2023, he was hired as the offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers, and in 2024, he became the pass game coordinator for the Chicago Bears, eventually getting promoted to offensive coordinator during the season.
Over the last four years, Brown interviewed for the head coach positions of the Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, and the Bears. It seems like Brown’s goal is to one day be a head coach or an offensive coordinator, and it could happen as soon as next season.
If Brown becomes a head coach, he would join Matt LaFleur and Arthur Smith as head coaches after working on Vrabel’s staff, which would extend a branch of his coaching tree.
But at least, for now, the Patriots don't have to worry about Brown leaving down just yet.