The New England Patriots may be on the verge of doing something almost unprecedented, as a 40-7 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers has many wondering if head coach Jerod Mayo will be fired after just one season.
While Mayo defenders have a very strong argument to be made in his defense, as his roster may be as bereft of talent as any in the league, losses like this one at home show the team regressing across the board and failing to show any fire in their bellies make the case for firing him stronger than ever.
New England fans seemingly want to swap one former Patriots linebacker for another, as former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel is currently unattached. With their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye seemingly in place, Vrabel could give them the consistency they need to get back to the postseason.
However, the end of his Tennessee tenure shows that Vrabel was by no means the second coming of Bill Walsh. There may be a handful of options out there who could be just as good as Vrabel, especially if another team snaps him up first.
4 coaches not named Mike Vrabel Patriots must hire to replace Jerod Mayo
4. Jesse Minter, DC, Los Angeles Chargers
As the Patriots have seen firsthand, Minter is going to be an NFL head coach at some point following his complete transformation of the Chargers' defense. Minter has Los Angeles' unit performing so well that it's not unrealistic to say they are the best overall defense in the league.
Vrabel didn't have an offensive background, but he was able to put the right people in place to help Ryan Tannehill make the leap from average to well above average in Tennessee. If the Patriots trust Minter to do the same, the former Michigan coach could be on his way up north.
3. Josh McCown, QB coach, Minnesota Vikings
Vikings OC Wes Phillips isn't a hot name due to his lack of play-calling experience, so McCown might be the better name in the coaching circles after landing past interviews with the Texans. McCown was beloved as a locker room leader during his playing days, and he has played a monumental role in Sam Darnold's resurgence.
McCown, if nothing else, would make sure that Maye ends up becoming a premier passer in this league. While Alex Van Pelt hasn't necessarily done a terrible job considering the talent on hand, the Patriots must acknowledge that McCown would build a better offensive staff,
2. Kellen Moore, OC, Philadelphia Eagles
Moore may have bounced around the league in the last few years, but his status as one of the most creative play designers has not wavered one bit. While Moore had a reputation as an aerial circus mastermind with Dallas, he may help Saquon Barkley cross 2,000 rushing yards in the 2024 season.
Moore will get a head coaching job in the near future, and the Patriots would do well to beat everyone else to the punch. If the goal is giving Maye the right scheme to take advantage of his skills, look no further than Moore's work with Dak Prescott.
1. Joe Brady, OC, Buffalo Bills
Brady's reputation as an offensive wunderkind took a huge hit after he left LSU, as his first NFL OC term ended with the Carolina Panthers firing him. His second go-around has been much better, as he has Josh Allen performing like an MVP player after throwing 18 picks in the prior season.
Brady's offensive acumen coming to New England would set Maye on fire, as he has proven to be capable of constructing one of the best passing games in the league without an elite wide receiver. Brady would be a complete 180 as a coach when compared to Mayo.