When the Patriots hired Mike Vrabel to be their next head coach, it inevitably meant that he would also hire a new coaching staff behind him. In doing so, Vrabel hired a line of coaches that he’s coached with previously or has a high amount of respect for in the NFL.
After shaping his staff, I noticed that Vrabel added specific players that his coaches have had previous experiences with on other teams. This is part of the way that Vrabel wants to build the style of culture in New England that he wants, as he finds it important to have familiar players on the team that his staff is connected to in some way.
With Vrabel being the head coach, it’s ultimately his decision who he wants on the team, and he’s added the players that he wants. But he’s also added players who are connected to his coaching staff and not just him.
Let's take a look at the players added specifically for each member of the coaching staff:
Mike Vrabel, Head Coach
When Vrabel became the head coach, he was quick to rebuild the defense by adding players that he knew would work playing for him.
- Harold Landry III
- Jack Gibbens
- Robert Spillane
- Monty Rice
Josh McDaniels, Offensive Coordinator
With the trust from Vrabel, Josh McDaniels will have complete control of the offensive decisions and a strong input on personnel.
Tight end was a position to consider upgrading this offseason, but Austin Hooper, who played for both Vrabel (Tennessee) and McDaniels (Las Vegas) in other spots, re-signed with New England, likely due to McDaniels. Robert Spillane has also played for both Vrabel and McDaniels.
It’s also worth mentioning that there were very prototypical players added as undrafted free agents that McDaniels needs to have a closer look at.
- Austin Hooper
- Robert Spillane
- Marcus Epps
- Kyle Williams (Rookie)
- Efton Chism III (UDFA)
- Lan Larison (UDFA)
- Brock Lampe (UDFA)
Doug Marrone, Offensive Line
When Doug Marrone was the offensive line coach for Alabama in 2021, he scouted and recruited Will Campbell. In 2024, Marrone was at Boston College as a football analyst, has seen a lot of Jack Conley up close, and believes he is a player worth having in for training camp.
- Will Campbell
- Jack Conley
Todd Downing, Wide Receivers
Todd Downing started as an intern in Minnesota in the early 2000s and worked his way up to being a position coach. He bounced around the league a lot but ended up back in Minnesota in 2018 as a tight ends coach, where he crossed paths with Stefon Diggs.
Downing is also connected to Vrabel, who hired him in Tennessee and promoted him to offensive coordinator.
- Stefon Diggs
- Mike Vrabel
Clint McMillan, Defensive Line
McMillan previously worked for Vrabel in 2021 with Tennessee as a defensive assistant and remained with the team as a defensive line and pass rush specialist after Vrabel was fired last season.
That said, it’s worth noting that he also worked with Landry, Spillane, Rice and Gibbens while in Tennessee.
The Patriots traded up in the 2025 NFL Draft to pick defensive tackle Joshua Farmer in the fourth round out of Florida State.
McMillan offered Farmer his first scholarship out of high school in 2021 when he was a football analyst with Florida State.
- Joshua Farmer
Terrell Williams, Defensive Coordinator
Terrell Williams was hired by Vrabel in 2018 as the defensive line coach of the Titans. So, along with the other former Tennessee coaches, Williams also has experience with Landry, Spillane, Rice, and Gibbens.
Last season, however, Williams was the defensive line and run game coordinator for the Detroit Lions, where he crossed paths with veteran cornerback Carlton Davis III, who is now on the Patriots.
- Carlton Davis III
Justin Hamilton, Cornerbacks
Justin Hamilton was hired by Vrabel in 2023 as a defensive quality control coach. He has experience working with Landry and Gibbens while in Tennessee.