New England Patriots former line backer and Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel makes a speech at his 2023 Patriots Corridor of Fame induction within the Cross Insurance coverage Pavilion at Gillette Stadium.
Eric Canha | USA TODAY Sports activities through Reuters Join
The New England Patriots have employed former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel as their head coach, the crew introduced Sunday.
Vrabel, 49, went 54-45 in six seasons because the Titans’ coach, plus a 2-3 report within the playoffs. He’s additionally a former participant for the Patriots, enjoying linebacker for the crew from 2001-2008, profitable three Tremendous Bowls.
Vrabel was employed to exchange Jerod Mayo, one other former New England linebacker, who was fired after just one season with the crew. Mayo went 4-13 in his lone yr on the helm.
Throughout the 2024 season, Vrabel was a training guide for the Cleveland Browns earlier than his contract expired on Dec. 30 in anticipation of attainable head teaching interviews.
Vrabel was a coveted teaching candidate throughout this yr’s hiring cycle. He interviewed with the New York Jets and Chicago Bears earlier than in the end agreeing to a take care of the Patriots.
Vrabel had a profitable begin to his tenure in Tennessee. His groups posted profitable data in every of his first 4 seasons and made the playoffs in three straight seasons from 2019 to 2021. Beneath Vrabel, the Titans made the AFC Championship Recreation after the 2019 season. In 2021, Tennessee was the No. 1 seed within the AFC and had a first-round bye.
The Titans missed the playoffs in Vrabel’s final two seasons, nevertheless, and their win complete decreased from seven to 6 from 2022 to 2023. In his six years with the crew, Tennessee had six completely different beginning quarterbacks.
Vrabel’s teaching profession started in school with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2011. He made the soar to the NFL in 2014, becoming a member of the Houston Texans’ defensive workers. He was defensive coordinator for one season in 2017 earlier than taking the Titans job.
As a participant, Vrabel began his profession with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997 after the crew chosen him within the third spherical of that yr’s draft. He spent 4 years with the Steelers earlier than becoming a member of New England as a free agent.
Vrabel grew to become a franchise legend throughout his eight seasons with the Patriots as the most effective gamers on a protection that performed a significant function within the early years of New England’s dynasty. Vrabel was inducted into the Patriots Corridor of Fame in 2023.
New England ought to provide a extra secure quarterback state of affairs for Vrabel in his second head teaching cease. The crew chosen Drake Maye within the first spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he performed nicely in his rookie season.
Along with Maye, the Patriots can have the fourth choose within the upcoming draft in addition to over $130 million in cap house, per Spotrac.
