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Potential Bill Belichick Replacement Plan Hits Major Snag

One potential plan the New England Patriots could consider to replace head coach Bill Belichick has hit a snag.

By Isaiah De Los Santos

Jul 27, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick heads to the
Jul 27, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick heads to the / Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
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There's way more questions swirling around the New England Patriots than answers following their bye, which is a precarious position to be in. Aside from the current quarterback situation, Bill Belichick's long-term future with the team continues to be watched closely as this season spirals.

Surely owner Robert Kraft has a few names in mind in case he does move on from the six-time Super Bowl champion. However, one of the candidates just became even more difficult to hire.

Patriots Rumors: Mike Vrabel Unavailable?

The Athletic's Diana Russini reports the Tennessee Titans are planning to hang onto head coach Mike Vrabel even during a rebuild. Russini notes "multiple conversations with high-ranking Titans officials" echoed the sentiment that "the franchise strongly and collectively believes it has the right coach for long-term success."

Some Pats fans see this as a major blow to a possible HC search. Vrabel would be a prime target if New England wants to pursue someone to restore its winning culture. After helping win three Super Bowls and racking up numerous accolades while doing so, the ex-linebacker certainly knows what it takes to compete at a high level.

Vrabel's playing success has translated over to the coaching ranks as well. He's compiled a 51-41 record helming Tennessee since 2018, all while posting just one losing campaign. His run with the Titans includes two division wins and a trip to the 2019 AFC Championship Game.

However, there's no reason to completely rule out Vrabel just yet. There's still a ton of season to still be played, which could lead to Tennessee's confidence slipping or the Patriots' aggressiveness increasing.

In fact, the Titans leaking this interest in keeping Vrabel around could be a bargaining tactic. It sends a hidden message that teams will have to pay up if they want to trade for this offseason, which could be putting the Pats directly on notice.

With Tennessee seemingly applying some pressure on Kraft, we'll wait and see how he responds.

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