Mike Vrabel has returned to the New England Patriots as their new head coach. The team announced his hiring on Sunday morning, confirming that Vrabel will lead the franchise for several years.
Vrabel, a longtime player for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008, has been hired after Jerod Mayo’s firing in January. As a coach, Vrabel has experience leading the Tennessee Titans with a 54-45 regular-season record and a playoff mark of 2-3. He was previously an offensive coordinator at Detroit Lions and also worked as a linebackers coach at Ohio State.
The Patriots Hall of Fame inducted Vrabel in 2023, and he expressed his affinity for the franchise and its leadership during his induction speech. Vrabel has returned to New England only five times since being traded to Kansas City in 2009 and spoke fondly of his time with the team.
As a player, coach Bill Belichick praised Vrabel’s fundamentals, commitment, toughness, leadership, situational awareness, and intelligence. Vrabel aims to recreate this environment as a head coach, instilling trust and accountability among players.
The Patriots will formally introduce Vrabel during a news conference on Monday at Gillette Stadium.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43382844/mike-vrabel-agrees-become-patriots-new-coach-sources-say