Report: Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots agree on contract as new head coach

Mike Vrabel is set to become the new head coach of the New England Patriots, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

“Homecoming: Mike Vrabel and the Patriots reached a multi-year agreement to make him New England’s next head coach, per sources,” Schefter wrote on Twitter. “Vrabel now is the seventh individual to become the head coach for a franchise he once helped win a Super Bowl as a player, joining Jerod Mayo, Bart Starr, Forrest Gregg, Art Shell, Jeff Saturday and Jason Garrett.”

Vrabel, 49, always seemed like the favorite to succeed Jerod Mayo, fired just hours removed from the Week 18 victory over the Buffalo Bills. Like Mayo, Vrabel is another former Patriots Pro Bowl linebacker.

Vrabel played eight seasons with the Patriots (2001-08), a key contributor on three Super Bowl winning teams. He is a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame, as well as the team’s All-2000s, 50th Anniversary and All-Dynasty teams.

Vrabel served as a coaching and personnel consultant for the Cleveland Browns this season under head coach Kevin Stefanski. He spent the previous six seasons as head coach of the Tennessee Titans, where he had success.

New England Patriots hire Mike Vrabel as new head coach

Vrabel went 54-45 in Tennessee, winning two AFC South titles and making three consecutive playoff appearances from 2019-21. He went 2-2 in the postseason, leading the Titans to the AFC Championship Game in 2019. Vrabel was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2021. The Titans fired Vrabel following a 6-11 campaign in 2023.

Now, he returns to the sideline in a New England homecoming. He’s tasked with turning around the Patriots, who finished 4-13 and have failed to reach the postseason in three consecutive seasons. Vrabel never quite found a franchise quarterback in Tennessee, but the good news is that is already in place in New England. The Patriots selected Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick in last year’s Draft, and he performed well under tough circumstances as a rookie.

The new regime in place has $130 million in cap space to work with in rebuilding the roster this offseason.

Nick Geddes contributed to this report