The New England Patriots hire Mike Vrabel as their next head coach to replace Jerod Mayo, who in his rookie season to replace the legendary Bill Belichick, finished with a 4-13 record.
The Patriots confirmed the hiring on Sunday through their social networks, a week after owner Robert Kraft fired Jerod Mayo in the last game of the season against the Buffalo Bills.
“He’s back! Patriots Hall of Famer Mike Vrabel returns to New England as our 16th head coach,” the Pats boasted on their X account.
Mike Vrabel is the Patriots’ bet
Vrabel is a former linebacker who won three Super Bowl titles with the Pats, and was the favorite to take control of the team, which was named a member of the club’s Ring of Honor in 2023
According to NFL.com and NFL Research, “Vrabel is the first coach since 1950 to replace another coach and both had played together in the NFL as teammates, since Forrest Gregg replaced Bart Starr as head coach of the Packers in 1984.”
Vrabel is 49 years old and in addition to the Patriots he had interviewed for the head coaching job with the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets, but was always the favorite to return to Foxborough, with the mission of returning the identity to New England and follow the glorious steps left by Belichick, something that could not be achieved by Jerod Mayo.
Unlike Mayo, Vrabel comes to the position with a resume with experience as a head coach and an overall record of 56-48 with the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023. His playoff record is 2-3 with an appearance in the AFC Championship Game in 2019.
Read the full article here
