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Patriots Hire Perfect Head Coach To Rebuild Winning Culture

The Patriots have reportedly hired Mike Vrabel to be their next head coach.

By Jovan Alford

Dec 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.
Dec 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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After a week of head coaching interviews, the New England Patriots have found their next head coach. 

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Mike Vrabel and the Pats reached a multi-year agreement to make him the next head coach for the 2025 season. The former Tennessee Titans head coach was viewed as the “favorite” to land the job after New England parted ways with first-time head coach Jerod Mayo last week.

On Saturday, FOX Sports Insider Jordan Schultz reported Vrabel and the Pats were negotiating a deal to make him the next head coach in New England. Vrabel is well-known by Patriots fans as he spent eight years as a linebacker in Foxborough.

During his eight-year tenure with the Pats, Vrabel helped the team with three Super Bowls after beginning his playing career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who drafted him in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft.

Vrabel was named to the Patriots’ 2000s All-Decade Team, the Patriots 50th Anniversary Team, and was inducted into the Pats Hall of Fame in 2023 for his contributions to the organization.

After his playing career was over in 2010, Vrabel jumped into coaching, starting with his alma mater – Ohio State for three years as a linebackers/defensive line coach (2011-13). 

Vrabel returned to the NFL ranks, becoming a linebacker coach/defensive coordinator with the Houston Texans (2014-17). The former Pats’ linebacker stint with the Texans helped him get the head coaching gig with the Tennessee Titans.

With the Tennessee Titans, Vrabel led them to the playoffs three times over his six years in the Music City, including two AFC South titles. 

Vrabel struggled in his last two years with the Titans, posting below .500 records (7-10 and 6-11), leading to Tennessee parting ways with him at the end of last season. Vrabel wasn’t out of coaching for long as he was a consultant for the Cleveland Browns this season.

The 49-year-old head coach has a tall task ahead of him as the Patriots finished with four wins for the second straight season. However, Vrabel enters a situation where he has a rookie QB in Drake Maye and a ton of cap space to hopefully turn this organization around in 2025.

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