The New England Patriots confirmed on Sunday that Mike Vrabel is the 16th Head Coach of the Patriots.
Last week, Kraft Group finalized its decision to fire coach Jerod Mayo after just one season— serving under one year in the new role. Patriots owner, Robert Kraft cites this as “one of the hardest decisions I have ever made.”
Mayo, a former Patriot’s player, took over the Patriots in one of their weakest seasons to date, with a 4-13 scoreboard in the 2023-2024 season. This past season, the New England Patriots finished in the same spot, with 13 losses and only 4 wins, the last of which, turned out to be for the worse.
Had the Patriots lost to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, January 5, their final game of the season, they would have at least earned the first draft pick in the NFL come April. Instead they’ve secured the fourth draft pick, unfortunate news for a time in which the team’s future is so uncertain.
Who is Mike Vrabel?
Vrabel is a long time friend of Robert Kraft, which made many predict he might be the top pick for as the new coach, he was even on the drawing board last year when the Patriots searched for a new coach to replace Bill Belichick. Vrabel is a tenured NFL coach and former NFL linebacker.
Vrabel attended Ohio State University on an athletic scholarship before he began his NFL career with the Pittsburg Steelers. Vrabel then played for the Patriots from 2001-2008, helping the team to many victories. His final NFL seasons as a player were with the Kanas City Chiefs.
In 2011, Vrabel began his coaching career, returning to his stomping grounds at Ohio State. Vrabel’s NFL coaching career began in 2014, he’s most known for leading four straight victorious seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Vrabel was dismissed as Titans Head Coach after a 6-11 season. Find the full press conference with new Patriots Head Coach, Mike Vrabel:
Patriots fans expressed mixed emotions regarding the new hire of coach Mike Vrabel. Some, excited due to Vrabel’s years of experience and others concerned that the search was not thorough enough.