Mike Vrabel, a former head coach of the Tennessee Titans, was named the new head coach of the New England Patriots on Sunday.
In his six seasons as the Titans’ coach, Vrabel, 49, had a 54-45 record and a 2-3 playoff record. In addition, he was a linebacker for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008, during which time the team won three Super Bowls.
Another former New England linebacker, Jerod Mayo, was let go after just one season with the organization, and Vrabel was brought in to take his place. In his one year as head coach, Mayo had a 4–13 record.
Prior to his contract expiring on December 30, Vrabel served as a coaching consultant with the Cleveland Browns for the 2024 season in preparation for potential head coaching interviews.
During this year’s hiring cycle, Vrabel was a highly sought-after coaching prospect. Before finally accepting a contract with the Patriots, he had interviews with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets.
Vrabel’s time in Tennessee got off to a good start. From 2019 to 2021, his clubs qualified for the playoffs three times in a row and finished with winning records in each of his first four seasons. Following the 2019 season, the Titans advanced to the AFC Championship Game under Vrabel. Tennessee had a first-round bye in 2021 and was the top seed in the AFC.
But in Vrabel’s last two seasons, the Titans missed the playoffs, and from 2022 to 2023, their victory total dropped from seven to six. Tennessee has six different starting quarterbacks during his six years on the team.
In 2011, Vrabel joined the Ohio State Buckeyes as a college coach. In 2014, he entered the NFL and joined the defensive staff of the Houston Texans. Before joining the Titans, he served as defensive coordinator for one season in 2017.
After being chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of that year’s draft, Vrabel began his playing career with the organization in 1997. Before becoming a free agent and moving to New England, he played for the Steelers for four years.
As one of the top players on a defense that was crucial to the early years of the New England dynasty, Vrabel spent eight seasons with the Patriots and became a club icon. In 2023, Vrabel was admitted into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
In his second head coaching position, New England need to provide Vrabel with a more secure quarterback situation. Drake Maye, who was chosen by the team in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, had a strong rookie campaign.
According to Spotrac, the Patriots will have more than $130 million in cap room in addition to Maye and the fourth pick in the next draft.