Patriots are hiring Mike Vrabel as their next head coach
Vrabel and New England reached a multi-year agreement, per Adam Schefter.
The Patriots are hiring Mike Vrabel as their next head coach.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the news Sunday morning, noting that the sides have reached a multi-year agreement. The Patriots then posted on X, exclaiming: “He’s back!”
Vrabel is now the seventh individual to become the head coach for a franchise he once helped win a Super Bowl as a player, joining Jerod Mayo and five others.
Mayo coached the team for one year, finishing with a 4-13 record before he was fired Jan. 5.
The team moved quickly, interviewing Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, former Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, and former Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton before deciding to turn to a familiar face.
Vrabel, 49, won three Super Bowls with the Patriots while playing with the team from 2001-2008.
Vrabel, who was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2023, praised the franchise at the ceremony.
“I’ve been a lot of places,” Vrabel told the crowd. “This is a special place, with great leadership, great fans, great direction, great coaching. Enjoy it. It’s not like this everywhere.”
He has a 54-45 record as an NFL head coach with the Tennessee Titans, leading Tennessee to the playoffs three times and the AFC Championship Game once over six years.
Vrabel was named the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year in 2021. He’s also had coaching stops with Ohio State, the Houston Texans, and the Cleveland Browns.
Former teammate Tedy Bruschi highlighted Vrabel’s ability to talk to players with an even keel.
“He’s more Bill Parcells-like than Bill Belichick,” Bruschi said on ESPN.
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