In less than a week’s span, the Patriots fired Jerod Mayo, went through the head-coaching search and interview process and decided on Mike Vrabel to lead the team into a new era.

This was the expected outcome after the Patriots fired Mayo just over an hour after their final game of the 2024 season, and the team moved quickly, interviewing just four candidates for the job: Vrabel, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and former NFL offensive coordinators Byron Leftwich and Pep Hamilton. The Patriots also requested to interview Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn but were declined.

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The Patriots came away impressed with Vrabel and Johnson and entered contract negotiations with Vrabel on Saturday. The deal became final Sunday morning.

Vrabel returns to the Patriots after a 17-year absence. He spent 2001 to 2008 as a linebacker with the team, helping the franchise attain three Super Bowl titles. He was traded to the Chiefs along with Matt Cassel following the 2008 season and went into coaching after his playing career wrapped up, ascending from linebackers coach at Ohio State to Titans head coach in just seven years.

Vrabel took the Titans to the playoffs in three of his six seasons but was fired after going 6-11 in 2023. He spent the 2024 season as a coaching and personnel executive with the Browns and now makes his return to the Patriots.

With the job in hand, Vrabel and the Patriots have much work to do.

HIRE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Nailing this is paramount for Vrabel and the Patriots’ organization with Drake Maye appearing primed to be the franchise quarterback of the future.

It is worth noting that unless the Patriots bring back offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington, they must satisfy the Rooney Rule with both coordinator hires by interviewing two minority candidates. If the Patriots were impressed with Leftwich and Hamilton during their interviews, then they could be brought back in as offensive coordinator candidates.

Former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who was in the Patriots’ organization with Vrabel from 2001 to 2008, is considered a candidate for the job. It would be McDaniels’ third go-around with the title.

The Patriots ranked sixth in points scored and 15th in yards in 2021, McDaniels’ last season at the helm as offensive coordinator before being hired away as the Raiders head coach. McDaniels lasted less than two years with the Raiders. The Patriots have ranked 17th, 31st and 30th in points and 26th, 30th and 31st in yards in the three seasons since McDaniels left.

The Patriots interviewed a slew of candidates for the offensive coordinator position last year and ultimately landed on Van Pelt. Van Pelt and the rest of the coaching staff remain under contract, so it is possible that Vrabel could choose to keep the Patriots’ current OC given his strong work with Maye.

Vrabel could pull from his Browns connections and speak with Tommy Rees, Cleveland’s pass game specialist & tight ends coach, who has worked as Notre Dame and Alabama’s offensive coordinator.

Other potential candidates include Ken Dorsey, Josh McCown, Nick Caley, Tim Kelly and Todd Downing.

DECIDE ON DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

The Patriots’ defense took a major step back under Covington last season, so it would be a surprise to see him back in the coordinator role.

Shane Bowen was Vrabel’s last defensive coordinator, but he’s currently the Giants’ DC. Former Jets head coach Robert Saleh is one of the hotter current defensive coordinator candidates. Vrabel also worked with safeties coach Ephraim Banda, who recently interviewed for the Colts’ DC vacancy, on the Browns.

MAKE A DECISION ON GM

Patriots owner Robert Kraft said last Monday that executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf will be staying on in 2025. But Vrabel could still have the power to hire someone in the front office above Wolf.

Wolf drafted Maye, but the rest of the 2024 offseason had mixed results.

League sources believe Giants executive advisor to the general manager Ryan Cowden is the leading candidate. Cowden worked with Vrabel on the Titans in a number of different roles, including vice president of player personnel and interim general manager.

Another potential candidate mentioned by league sources is Browns assistant general manager/vice president of player personnel Glenn Cook.

Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi and Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew are other top general manager candidates around the league.

FILL OUT STAFF

Mayo had few connections outside of New England. That is clearly not the case for Vrabel, who has built up connections from the Patriots to Ohio State, the Texans, Titans and Browns.

Vrabel should be able to fill out a much better staff with the Patriots in 2025.

One of his former teammates, Wes Welker, was just fired as wide receivers coach by the Dolphins.

Vrabel also must decide if special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer will be back in 2025.

There’s a lot of work to be done.