Patriots coach reportedly drawing interest for Cardinals head-coaching job

Thomas Brown has experience working on coaching staffs led by Sean McVay and Mike Vrabel.

Thomas Brown has been a key coach on Mike Vrabel's staff this season. Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe

January 6, 2026

1 minute to read

One of the more experienced coaches on Mike Vrabel’s staff in New England is reportedly being pursued as a head-coaching candidate this offseason.

According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, the Arizona Cardinals have requested to interview Patriots passing game coordinator and tight ends coach Thomas Brown for their head coaching job.

Arizona now has a head-coaching vacancy after firing Jonathan Gannon on Monday after a 3-14 season and 15-36 record over the past three seasons.

Brown is in his first year with the Patriots. The 39-year-old coach has plenty of experience across the NFL, working under Sean McVay as a coach with the Rams for three seasons — eventually serving as Los Angeles’ assistant head coach and tight ends coach in 2022.

The following season, Brown served as the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator before undergoing a rapid rise through the ranks with the Chicago Bears in 2024.

After initially being hired as Chicago’s passing game coordinator in 2024, Brown was promoted as the team’s offensive coordinator on Nov. 12 once Shane Waldron was fired. Brown remained in that role for just three weeks. He became the team’s interim head coach after Matt Eberflus was fired on Nov. 29.

Brown interviewed for New England’s offensive coordinator position last spring before it eventually went to Josh McDaniels. However, New England still offered Brown a job on Vrabel’s staff, working with McDaniels to develop a passing game that has helped Drake Maye emerge as an MVP frontrunner in 2025.

According to KPNX’s Cameron Cox, the Cardinals have also requested interviews with Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.