Rob Gronkowski reacts to Patriots hiring Mike Vrabel, calls for Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator

The New England Patriots are bringing back a familiar face, agreeing to a multi-year contract with team legend Mike Vrabel to become their next head coach.

With Vrabel in place, another Patriots legend — former tight end Rob Gronkowski — is calling on New England to reunite with a six-time Super Bowl champion-winning coach. No, not Bill Belichick, but Josh McDaniels. Speaking on Sunday’s “NFL on FOX Pregame” show, Gronkowski raved about the Vrabel hire and called for him to hire McDaniels as offensive coordinator “as soon as possible.”

"This guy is going to keep everyone accountable in the organization." @RobGronkowski shares his thoughts on the Patriots hiring Mike Vrabel as their new head coach ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/t8zAIwyFVp

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 12, 2025

“The New England Patriots got their guy this morning in Patriot great Mike Vrabel,” Gronkowski said. “Let me tell you, Patriots fans are thrilled. This guy is going to keep everyone accountable as an organization from the coaching staff to the players. He’s going to keep himself accountable and even the front office is gonna keep accountable. And let me tell you once again, this guy has knowledge, power and he’s gonna be great. He knows how to discipline players.

“If I’m Mike Vrabel, the first thing I would do is dial up the number of Josh McDaniels, a familiar foe to Patriots fans and hire him as the offensive coordinator as soon as possible.”

The combination of Vrabel and McDaniels is exactly what Gronkowski predicted when New England fired Jerod Mayo last Sunday.

“Probably hoping to get Mike Vrabel,” Gronkowski said. “There’s some rumblings out there as well that Josh McDaniels may come back as offensive coordinator.”

Josh McDaniels returning to Patriots under Mike Vrabel?

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported Sunday that McDaniels would be in the mix to return as offensive coordinator under Vrabel. McDaniels, 48, has been out of football this season after the Las Vegas Raiders fired him eight games into the 2023 season. His head coaching tenure in Las Vegas was a disaster, but he’s always thrived as an offensive coordinator — specifically in New England.

McDaniels, who first joined the Patriots in 2001 as a personnel assistant, was named offensive coordinator in 2006. He called plays for three seasons before the Denver Broncos hired him as their head coach. McDaniels returned in 2012, serving as offensive coordinator again through the 2021 season. McDaniels made magic with Tom Brady and would have a chance to work with Drake Maye this time around.

Mike Vrabel set for New England homecoming

Vrabel will ultimately make that decision. Vrabel, 49, always seemed like the favorite to succeed 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.

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.