Chowder and Champions
Fansided

Patriots Have 'Mutual Interest' in Potential Bill Belichick Replacement

As Bill Belichick's future with the Patriots is up in the air, rumors have swirled regarding potential replacements. The newest name in the rumor mill is none other than the recently fired Mike Vrabel, per Bleacher Report.

By Devon Platana

The Patriots and Mike Vrabel could potentially have a 'mutual interest' to work together, per Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz.
The Patriots and Mike Vrabel could potentially have a 'mutual interest' to work together, per Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz. / George Walker IV / Tennessean.com via
facebooktwitterreddit

After a debacle of a 2023 NFL season, Bill Belichick's future with the New England Patriots is up in the air. Although nothing has been confirmed and the 71-year-old head coach could easily return for another campaign, that hasn't stopped Patriots fans from wondering who could replace Belichick if he leaves town.

Well, the latest Patriots rumors certainly add fuel to the fire regarding a potential replacement. On Wednesday, Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz revealed that the franchise and former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel would have 'mutual interest' if Belichick leaves his head coaching position.

Patriots Rumors: Vrabel to Replace Belichick?

NFL fans were left stunned on Tuesday when the Titans announced that they were firing Vrabel following a disappointing 6-11 campaign. While the team's performance left much to be desired, fans and experts alike assumed the 48-year-old had a longer rope after four winning records in six seasons with the franchise.

Nevertheless, the Titans' loss is potentially the Patriots' gain.

Assuming Belichick leaves, Vrabel taking over as the Patriots head coach makes sense. The former linebacker is a fan favorite in New England after spending the 2001 to 2008 campaigns with the Pats, winning three Super Bowls before eventually being inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame back in October.

Schultz's update comes two days after he reported that Vrabel is "interested in the idea of returning to the Patriots." Interestingly enough, that report came out just over 24 hours before the Titans gave him the axe.

At the end of the day, Vrabel could be the perfect catalyst to help the Patriots return to prominence. He's 23 years younger than Belichick, meaning that he could potentially relate to the players more. Furthermore, having a coach who's focused on game planning and isn't worried about juggling general manager duties could also be what the doctor ordered.

Since taking over as the head coach in 2018, Vrabel led the Titans to a 54-45 record (54.5%) across six seasons. For reference, Belichick owns a 52-47 record (52.5%) during that span.

Fans might not have to wait long to see if Vrabel replaces Belichick, though. According to Schultz, Belichick and the Kraft Family will meet one more time during the next week to decide his future.

More New England Patriots news and rumors:

feed

Home/New England Patriots