Within the wake of Jerod Mayo being relieved of his duties as New England Patriots head coach, Mike Vrabel stands out as the most obvious candidate to exchange him.
Vrabel served as head coach of the Tennessee Titans for six years (2018-23). Previous to his teaching profession, he performed 14 NFL seasons together with eight with the Patriots (2001-08). The previous linebacker helped New England to a few Tremendous Bowl titles and was inducted into the Patriots Corridor of Fame in 2023.
Fellow ex-Pats linebacker Ted Johnson performed alongside Vrabel from 2001 to 2004. On Monday’s The Breakdown, Johnson shared what he would inform Patriots possession about his former teammate as they consider him for the staff’s head-coaching emptiness.
“In the event that they had been to ask me, ‘Who’s the neatest participant you ever performed with?’ I would say it was Mike Vrabel and it wasn’t even shut,” Johnson mentioned. “Who had essentially the most vitality and got here to work each single day with unimaginable focus and vitality, and that will be Mike Vrabel.”
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Vrabel’s soccer IQ translated to the sideline, as he earned NFL Coach of the Yr honors in 2021. His Titans tenure got here to an unceremonious finish after the 2023 season, however he did sufficient throughout his six seasons in Tennessee to indicate he deserves one other shot at a head teaching gig.
Ought to that chance are available in Foxboro? After heaping reward on Vrabel, Johnson shared one concern he has along with his former teammate taking up for Mayo.
“The one factor that provides me a bit little bit of pause with Mike, I would prefer to know what his offensive philosophy is,” Johnson mentioned. “As a result of in case you take a look at his time there in Tennessee, it actually was sort of a extra conservative offense, actually highlighting the run sport versus the passing sport, and I do not know if that was due to the restrictions of the quarterback, however that is how he ran his offense.
“So I simply surprise, does he have the offensive thoughts to deliver the Patriots in for the subsequent 10 years, contemplating the place the offenses are going? It is essential for me to need to know from Mike who his offensive coordinator goes to be and what his offensive philosophy is.
“I might love Mike to be the pinnacle coach right here. I believe he’d be a fantastic tradition setter. I simply fear about what he is considering on offense and the way he sees the modern-day offense trying.”
As Johnson alludes to, whoever the Patriots rent as head coach shall be tasked with furthering the event of their prized younger quarterback Drake Maye. The offense as an entire shall be anticipated to take a major lead ahead in 2025.
Given how Vrabel ran his offense at Tennessee, it might behoove Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft to not less than think about an offensive-minded coach. New England reportedly requested to interview Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson for the position.
As for the entrance workplace, Eliot Wolf’s job seems protected for now. Kraft said Wolf will stay within the combine, although according to our Phil Perry, there is no such thing as a assure he shall be main the personnel division in 2025.
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