4 Most Likely Bill Belichick Replacements Following Latest Firing Rumors

3. Mike Vrabel

Mike Vrabel, an eight-year Patriots veteran and three-time Super Bowl Champion, would probably be Kraft's dream pick.

Vrabel was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame on Oct. 21 and honored the following day during halftime. Vrabel's appearance back in Foxborough turned a few heads, as he dropped a "we have a game to win today" during his address and also watched the game from Kraft's suite.

Unfortunately for Kraft, Vrabel has improved his job security in recent weeks. Tennessee has improved to 5-8 after starting 3-7, and the Titans seem to have something cooking with rookie quarterback Will Levis. This could buy Vrabel more time in Nashville.

Vrabel is 53-42 in six seasons in Tennessee. He has earned three postseason berths, including an AFC Championship Game appearance in 2019.

If Kraft is still desperately holding onto the idea of the "Patriot Way" and the glory years of that early 2000s New England dynasty, then it would be hard to imagine he isn't locked in on the former Patriot. Vrabel's job security in Tennessee isn't ironclad, but it also wouldn't be surprising to see him return.

Vrabel signed a five-year contract extension in 2021, so he would either have to be fired or the Patriots would have to sacrifice capital. A wild possibility is that Kraft could send the compensation received for the Belichick trade to Tennessee for Vrabel. Based on Curran's reporting, part of the rationale for not axing Belichick yet is in an effort to get back compensation in a trade during the offseason.

If only we could've known what was said in Kraft's suite that day.