Mike Vrabel’s firing by the Tennessee Titans could be a big factor in the next steps for the New England Patriots after a disastrous 4-13 season.
Vrabel — a former linebacker, who won three Super Bowls in eight seasons with New England — is believed to be Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s “home run” choice to succeed Bill Belichick amid rumors the legendary pair will part ways, according to The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin.
Vrabel, 48, was relieved of his duties as head coach on Tuesday after six seasons and back-to-back losing campaigns in Tennessee.
Volin wrote that Vrabel’s dismissal by the Titans “changes everything” with the Patriots approach this offseason.
The Patriots just suffered through a dismal season that was filled with reports and rumors debating Belichick’s future with the franchise beyond this season.
Belichick, though, sounded open to a return in his end-of-season press conference, even saying that he would consider conceding control over the team’s personnel to concentrate on his head coaching responsibilities.
“I’m for whatever collectively we decide as an organization is the best thing to help our football team,” Belichick said. “I have multiple roles in that, and I rely on a lot of people to help me in those responsibilities. Somebody’s gotta have the final say. I have it, I rely on a lot of other people to help. Whatever process that is, I’m only part of it.”
How does Vrabel’s availability change things?
The decision by the Titans to fire him, as opposed to attempting to trade him, eases the Patriots’ pursuit.
It could also force New England to speed up their decision on Belichick as they may not be the only team interested in Vrabel, who went 54-45 and made the playoffs three times with the Titans.
In October, Kraft gave Vrabel the VIP treatment — inviting him to sit in the owner’s box — when he was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame during halftime of the Patriots-Bills game at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 22.
“I want you not to take this organization for granted,” Vrabel told Patriots fans during his speech. “I’ve been a lot of places. This is a special place with great leadership, great fans, great direction, great coaching. Enjoy it. It’s not like this everywhere.”
Vrabel also has ties to some on the coaching staff in New England.
Vrabel worked with Patriots’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Bill O’Brien for four years in Houston — where Vrabel was a linebackers coach for two years on O’Brien’s Texans staff.
Belichick is reportedly set to meet with the Krafts this week and over the course of the next few weeks.
The Globe also reported that Vrabel’s agent Neil Cornrich has worked with Belichick for years, and reportedly advised on Belichick’s contract with the Patriots this past offseason.
Vrabel was the 2021 NFL Coach of the Year when the Titans went 12-5 and finished with the AFC’s No. 1 seed, and made the playoffs three years in a row (2019-21), taking the Titans to an AFC Championship game in 2019.
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