When most teams in search of a head coach are starting the first part of their interviews with candidates, the New England Patriots jumped ahead of everyone and signed Mike Vrabel, perhaps the top choice for the vast majority.
Last Sunday, the Patriots also became the first team in the NFL to fire their head coach (Jerod Mayo) after closing the regular season with a victory over the Buffalo Bills and a record of 4-13.
It is presumed that owner Robert Kraft wanted to speed up the processes in order to not let Vrabel slip away.
How was the process for the Patriots to hire Vrabel?
Byron Leftwich, former offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Pep Hamilton, former offensive coordinator of the Houston Texans; and Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, were also interviewed for the vacant position in Boston.
But Vrabel was the fan favorite as he spent eight seasons as a linebacker for New England and was a member of the first three Super Bowl-winning teams. In addition to that, he has had success as a coach during his six seasons in Tennessee.
Vrabel had an overall record of 56-48 with the Titans from 2018 to 2023. That includes a 2-3 record in the playoffs and an appearance in the National Conference final in the 2019 season as part of a streak of three consecutive postseason appearances.
After being cut by the Titans, Vrabel served as a consultant with the Cleveland Browns this season, but his contract expired, allowing him to speak with other teams. He was also interviewed by the Chicago Bears and New York Jets.
Why did Vrabel choose the Patriots?
There are five teams in search of a coach: Jets, Bears, Raiders, Jaguars, Saints, and eventually the Cowboys could join as well.
The first reason why Mike Vrabel chose the Patriots is his strong affection for the team, its fans, and owner Robert Kraft.
In 2023, when Vrabel was elected to the Patriots Hall of Fame, in a ceremony held at the stadium he said, "I have been in many places. This is a special place with great leadership, great fans, great management, and great coaching. Enjoy it, it's not like this everywhere."
The presence of a young and highly potential quarterback like Drake Maye (third pick in the 2024 Draft from North Carolina) could have also played a role in favor of the New England team.
With Vrabel out of the list, now Ben Johnson is the top candidate for teams like the Bears and the Raiders. Since the Lions won’t be playing in the first round of the NFC playoffs, Johnson was interviewed online by several interested parties, but in-person meetings can only take place once the Detroit season is over.