Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Devin McCourty recalled a harsh compliment Bill Belichick paid to Mike Vrabel’s coaching credentials
"I would be very surprised if it's not Mike Vrabel in there leading the Patriots organization going forward."
Devin McCourty’s take on Mike Vrabel and the Patriots: With the Patriots‘ head coaching search underway, one name has dominated the process.
Mike Vrabel, the former New England linebacker and ex-Titans head coach, is set to interview with the team on Thursday. He’s seen as one of the front-runners to land the vacant Patriots job.
Fellow former Patriot Devin McCourty, now an NFL analyst with NBC Sports, weighed in on Vrabel and his relationship with former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during a recent conversation with Mike Florio of “Pro Football Talk.”
McCourty shared an anecdote from 2016 when Vrabel’s name was starting to get mentioned as a possible head coaching candidate (he was hired by the Titans in 2018). Asked to speak with NBC broadcasters prior to a Sunday night primetime game, McCourty noted that he was delayed because Belichick was taking extra time to chat with commentators Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth.
Advertisement:
As he entered the room with the conversation drawing to a close, McCourty recalled Belichick being asked about Vrabel’s prospects as a head coach.
“I remember Coach Belichick was like, ‘I think he would be a pretty damn good coach. He’s enough of an a**hole that he can go and be a head coach.'”
In Belichick-ian terms, McCourty equated that to a compliment paid toward Vrabel.
And in his own view, the former New England safety views Vrabel as a potentially great hire for his old team.
“That is the perfect fit of what New England’s probably looking for of a guy coming in that has some Belichick-kind-of ways about him,” he explained. “Not full Belichick, but has some of those things about him. I’m sure for the Krafts, [Vrabel] reminds them enough of Bill, but also has a side that they enjoy of moving maybe a little bit away from the personality of Bill into this new world.”
Advertisement:
Vrabel is one of several candidates that the Krafts and New England leadership are looking at before making a decision on Jerod Mayo’s replacement. In the end, McCourty views it as a likely scenario that the former Titans head coach is on the sidelines at Gillette Stadium in the fall of 2025.
“So I don’t know how the whole process will work out, or what they need to do, but I would be very surprised if it’s not Mike Vrabel in there leading the Patriots organization going forward,” he said.
Florio shared a story that he’d heard of the Titans’ team busses having to wait for a prolonged period after a game against the Patriots during Belichick’s tenure because “Vrabel’s in with Belichick, and they keep talking, and they keep talking…and Vrabel won’t leave. That’s the kind of relationship they have.”
One question that McCourty had regarding the possibility of hiring Vrabel revolved around the front office. He cited a report that Vrabel had disagreed with the Titans front office over the decision to trade Tennessee wide receiver A.J. Brown in 2022.
“I just wonder, I think it’ll be a significant time in New England of how this thing goes forward. As of right now, Eliot Wolf is still on staff. If Mike Vrabel’s brought in, what is their relationship?” asked McCourty. “Is there a chance that he says, ‘Hey, in Tennessee they traded A.J. Brown. There’s no way in hell I wanted to trade A.J. Brown. I need more control over what happens in the front office.’ So I’m very interested to see how that all plays out.”
Trivia: Devin McCourty ranks second in Patriots history in all-time interceptions with 35. Two people are tied for the top spot (with 36). Can you name both of them?
Advertisement:
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: Both were first-round picks. One was selected in 1977, the other in 1995.
Scores and schedules:
The Boston Fleet lost 2-1 in overtime to the Minnesota Frost on Wednesday night.
Tonight, the Bruins face the Lightning in Tampa at 7 p.m.
Tomorrow, the Celtics host the Kings at TD Garden at 7:30 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
- This move by Jerod Mayo after a loss reportedly ‘surprised’ Patriots team personnel
- Seven targets for Patriots with No. 4 pick in 2025 NFL Draft
- Patriots reportedly set to interview Lions OC Ben Johnson on Friday
- 3 things to know about Patriots’ head-coaching candidate Aaron Glenn
- Bill Belichick reportedly has ‘no plans’ to leave UNC for NFL
- Bruins set to play Lightning outdoors in Tampa Bay for 2026 Stadium Series
- Red Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks donned T-shirt and shorts for frigid Fenway Park throwing session
- 4 things that helped the Celtics flip the script on their ‘brutal’ road trip
- Joe Mazzulla weighed in on Jerod Mayo being fired by the Patriots
- Tom Brady’s Raiders are reportedly among teams that have reached out to Bill Belichick
- Defending champions Hellen Obiri and Sisay Lemma are returning to run Boston Marathon
- Revolution sign 17-year-old midfielder Allan Oyirwoth
The latest on the coaching search: Unsurprisingly, Mike Vrabel is seen as the current front-runner, though it remains far from a settled question.
On this day: In 1987, the Celtics powered past the Kings 109-99 despite the absence of Larry Bird. Robert Parish picked up the slack for Boston, posting an impressive 28 points and 25 rebounds. Kevin McHale also had a notable night, scoring 26 points while collecting eight blocks.
Daily highlight: Victory Wembanyama continues to make extremely difficult plays look almost routine. Unfortunately for him, it wasn’t enough as the Spurs lost to the Bucks on Wednesday, 121-105.
WEMBY WHAT ⁉️ pic.twitter.com/9uc1voRIox
— NBA (@NBA) January 9, 2025
Trivia answer: Raymond Clayborn, Ty Law
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com