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Mike Reiss, ESPN writer
In a move that was widely expected across the NFL, the New England Patriots hired Mike Vrabel as head coach a week after firing Jerod Mayo. Vrabel’s previous coaching experience (in which he went 54-45 in six seasons with the Tennessee Titans that also included a 2-3 playoff record) was attractive to the Patriots, as was the owner’s background. Robert Kraft with Vrabel since his career as a linebacker in New England (2001-2008).
This is the fourth head coach Kraft has hired since purchasing the team in 1994, the others being Pete Carroll (1997-1999), Bill Belichick (2000-2023) and Mayo (2024).
Taking a closer look, ESPN Patriots reporter Mike Reiss answers four big questions about Vrabel’s signing, including what comes next. National reporter Daniel Graziano talks about what he’s hearing about the signing, and draft analyst Matt Miller takes it to the draft. Finally, analyst Ben Solak rates the hiring.
What makes Vrabel the right hire for the Patriots?
Vrabel has shown he can build a winning culture, adding value to the franchise after Kraft miscalculated that Mayo, 38, was ready for the job after five years as an assistant coach.
Vrabel, 49, will bring order and structure, and a mastery of game management that was born, in part, from what he learned from Belichick as a player. Belichick often noted that Vrabel was one of the smartest players he had ever coached. Additionally, the Patriots need an authoritative leader to unify all aspects of their football operation, something that has eluded them in recent years.
Kraft had a front-row seat to Vrabel’s leadership during his career as a player and then as an opposing coach who found success against New England. It doesn’t hurt that Vrabel is a Patriots Hall of Famer who spoke glowingly about the organization at his team’s induction. -Reiss
Did the Patriots have their sights set on Vrabel from the beginning?
The possibility of Vrabel becoming the Patriots coach dates back to last year. New England had terms in Mayo’s contract to become Belichick’s successor, but team sources said Vrabel’s unexpected availability in January 2024 after being fired by the Titans had some within the team wondering if those plans should be filed in favor of Vrabel. In the end, in May they were convicted enough to continue with the original plan. The fact that Vrabel remained available in 2025 and interviewed with the AFC East rival New York Jets adds a layer of context to the decision. -Reiss
How does this affect quarterback Drake Maye?
One of the biggest questions is what Vrabel’s vision is for the offense and who he plans to bring with him as offensive coordinator.
So Maye will likely play in a different system than his rookie season under coordinator Alex Van Pelt, and will also have new position coaches. This is significant as many credited Van Pelt and quarterbacks coach TC McCartney for his development and helping to refine his footwork after starting just 26 games in college.
Maye tried out some of the NFL’s different offensive systems in the pre-draft process when he met with several teams and noticed that some have a higher degree of difficulty than others in terms of the responsibility placed on the quarterback. -Reiss
What’s the first thing Vrabel should do as head coach?
Hire a general manager who shares your vision so that it is aligned across all departments of the organization, like Ryan Cowden, who was a top assistant during his final seasons in Tennessee. The Patriots have never had a general manager in Kraft’s 31 years, preferring instead an executive vice president of player personnel alongside the head coach as the top two staff members at the head.
This might be the right time to change that approach, as organizations like the Patriots have grown exponentially since the 1990s and a GM-type hire has never been more important to complement the head coach. -Reiss
What are you hearing around the league about recruiting?
Nobody is surprised. It seemed like this situation was pointing in this direction all week, with the team’s interest in Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson the only thing giving anyone pause. But Vrabel was interviewed in person, not over Zoom, and of course prior relationship with the organization was a major factor here.
Many people I spoke to rolled their eyes a little at the hiring. The Patriots had Belichick for 24 years, let him go, didn’t do any scouting before hiring Mayo, fired Mayo after one season, and then did a rushed search. Vrabel is an outstanding coach and probably the right hire, but it seems like the Patriots could have benefited from looking at a broader range of prospects before jumping on the obvious candidate. — Graziano
How can Vrabel improve this roster with the fourth pick?
The Patriots’ decision should be to improve the team overall and not focus entirely on offense or defense. There will be pressure from outside voices to build around a star young quarterback like Maye, and improving the offensive line and wide receiver corps should be a focus in the offseason. But it doesn’t have to happen at No. 4. Getting to the needs in Round 1 is how bad teams stay bad.
Instead, the “best player available” approach might be the best bet for a team that lost 13 games and has holes throughout the roster. That puts players like Penn State running back Abdul Carter on the board. He’s my best overall player in the class and would be a perfect addition to a defense that already has bright spots in Christian Gonzalez and Keion White. Every position outside of quarterback should be in play for New England, but my pick would be Carter if QB-needy teams in the top three picks leave him on the board for New England. – Miller
How would you rate this hire?
B+. There is no doubt that Vrabel is a solid coach. His strong defenses and the overall strength of his roster during his time in Tennessee are a testament to that. His return to New England also comes with optimistic feelings, as he was a successful player there and knows how to emulate Belichick’s system (while adding his own Vrabelian touch from his time away from the core). I have questions about how Vrabel will go about determining his offensive personnel and whether he can interact with Pats personnel executives, but his hiring dramatically raises the floor for a Patriots team looking to get back into contention. –solak
