How likely is a Vrabel-Patriots reunion? Curran and Breer share information originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Would the New England Patriots seriously consider moving on from head coach Jerod Mayo after just one season?
Any discussion on this topic should include another question: Is there a realistically better option than Mayo to coach the Patriots?
As speculation over Mayo’s future grows following his apparent call from offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt Sunday in Arizona, one of the coaching candidates that has been mentioned is former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel, who is currently a coach and personnel consultant for the Cleveland Browns following his firing by the Tennessee Titans in January 2024.
Is there a realistic chance the Patriots will look to replace Mayo in 2025? In Tuesday’s episode Arbella first editionPatriots insider Tom E. Curran and MMQB’s Albert Breer analyzed the many dynamics at play — starting with ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky hinting that Vrabel could return to his alma mater, Ohio State, to take the head coaching job if the Buckeyes fire Ryan Day.
“I would never say never, because it was kind of the same thing with Jim Harbaugh when he said, ‘No, I’m not going back to college,’ and then the alma mater (Michigan) asked enough of times so they got it,” Breer said, as seen in the video player above. “And maybe things will go badly for (Ohio State) … on Saturday. But I don’t see that happening right now.
“It’s likely (Vrabel) returns to the NFL, and I’ll tell you this too: I think he’s at or near the top of the list of three teams that have openings right now.”
So, Breer believes the New York Jets, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints — all of whom fired their coaches midseason — all intend to pursue Vrabel this offseason. And if the Patriots are considering a coaching change, Curran says Vrabel would seriously consider returning to the franchise where he won three Super Bowls as a player from 2001-08.
“Mike Vrabel would be interested in coaching for the New England Patriots,” Curran said. “I think he looks at the Patriots despite the flaws they showed and says, ‘I’d go back.’
Breer then added that wherever Vrabel went, he would seek to bring with him a completely new regime.
“I think he has a real idea of what it should look like and what he would like it to look like in the future,” Breer said of Vrabel. “I think he would bring a general manager with him. It would probably be (former Titans director of player personnel) Ryan Cowden. I think he might have had an offensive coordinator in mind (playing game specialist). Browns passing and tight ends coach) Tommy Rees, who is with him in Cleveland, maybe Josh McDaniels (former Patriots offensive coordinator).
That would leave the Krafts with a dilemma: give Mayo and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf another chance with a (hopefully) improved roster in 2025, or blow it by hiring Vrabel and his favorite team.
As attractive as Vrabel may be, Curran is skeptical that Krafts would end Mayo after just one season, given their support for (and investment in) the former Patriots linebacker.
“They were so solidly in his corner that I guess they didn’t come out of his corner enough to even begin to suggest that they would move away from him,” Curran added.
Check out Curran and Breer’s full discussion with First edition host Trenni Casey in the video player above.
