Even before Robert Kraft fired Jerod Mayo after the Patriots Week 18 win over the Bills, theories of who might be his replacement had been in the conversation for several weeks. At the top of the list had been Mike Vrabel, the longtime Patriots linebacker and former Titans head coach, who was rumored to be Kraft's favorite for the job last year.
While that remains the case now with Mayo gone and Vrabel available, another strong candidate has entered the realm of possibilities, and the team will interview him over the next week.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has been a primary target over the past few years by teams needing a new head coach. He has been a rising star in the NFL since taking over playcalling in 2022, and with Detroit locking up the number one seed in the NFC playoffs, it's expected Johnson will be even more pursued this offseason.
Despite the connections that Vrabel has to the Patriots that make him the frontrunner for the job, which also makes Johnson look less likely, it was just revealed that the offensive coordinator actually does have some ties to New England in surprising ways, meaning he might be far more interested in the position than anyone thought.
Ben Johnson has unique connections to some important people in the Patriots organization
The connections between Vrabel and the current Patriots regime are hard to look past, especially with the rumors suggesting he would retain many of those in the front office if he is the one hired. It would be an easy transition for Kraft if he wanted to keep on a familiar path with his head coaches, but Johnson is not a candidate to overlook.
One of the voices of the Patriots broadcast, Bob Socci, took to Twitter/X to connect some dots between Johnson and New England that don't seem to be universally known.
That props him up a bit with Vrabel, even if the ties aren't as strong, and could play a role in how well the interview goes, particularly the intel he could receive about quarterback Drake Maye.
One of Ben Johnson's first NFL offensive mentors in Miami was Mike Sherman, the ex-Packers head coach who was hired by Ron Wolf. Among his other early influences in his pro coaching career was Clyde Christensen, who coached Drake Maye at Johnson's alma mater, North Carolina. https://t.co/aMQ0d3OJPH
— Bob Socci (@BobSocci) January 6, 2025
Considering he has been deliberate with who he chooses to interview with and is reportedly said to be selective in the process again this year, it's a good sign that Johnson has already agreed to meet with the Krafts during the Lions bye week.
That shows a legitimate interest from him in the job, a great sign for the Patriots, who plan on interviewing more than just familiar names like Vrabel in the coming days.
They enter the offseason with the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, a solid quarterback to build around in Maye, and a projected league-high cap space to spend in free agency. That sounds like a new head coach's ultimate dream and the Patriots can provide that.
It could be a significant factor for Johnson to consider if the Krafts enjoy their interview with him and want to pursue an entirely new direction for the team than what they have historically done. An offensive-minded head coach hasn't been in Foxboro for quite some time and could be a welcomed change for the seasons ahead.