Since Bill Belichick was dismissed during the 2024 offseason, rumors swirled that Patriots owner Robert Kraft was eyeing ex-linebacker and former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel to be the next head coach. That remained in place until word got out about Jerod Mayo's contract and the alleged promise to succeed Belichick.
But rumors about Kraft's longing for Vrabel picked back up this month when Mayo was let go and he was available again after his contract with the Browns expired. It was assumed he was automatically the guy for the job and because he was hired, that seemed to have been validated.
Yet Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson remained atop the list for most of the week-long interview process, with many believing he might have had an edge over Vrabel due to his offensive brilliance and the Patriots' desire to put quarterback Drake Maye in the best position possible.
Johnson appeared to be heavily considered and in the running until the very end, but as many had predicted, it was Vrabel all along. With his previous experience and vast knowledge of all three phases of the game, on top of his vision for establishing a culture, Vrabel was the right guy for the job. And so far, it seems like current and former Patriots agree.
Read More: It didn't take long for Mike Vrabel to put Patriots players on notice
Brian Hoyer believes Mike Vrabel was a better choice as the Patriots head coach than Ben Johnson
During the latest episode of The Quick Snap podcast this week, former Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer and current starting center David Andrews discussed the team's decision to hire Vrabel and the consistent hyping of Johnson for the job leading up to the announcement.
While acknowledging Johnson's rise to stardom in the league through his offensive genius with the Lions, Hoyer emphasized that Vrabel is exactly what the Patriots need right now, especially after this past season, and his leadership will be the difference maker.
It was always Mike Vrabel over Ben Johnson@bhoyer7 sees Vrabel as a leader of men that the Patriots needed pic.twitter.com/zQxKBrLpfc
— The Quick Snap (@quicksnappod) January 16, 2025
Other than the potential hesitancy to hire another first-time head coach and an offensive mind as opposed to their history with defensive, the Patriots' choice to favor Vrabel due to culture makes all the sense in the world. Although Mayo had good intentions and never fully embarked on his vision, things got out of hand with the roster quickly, and the lack of team first was apparent throughout the season.
Given Vrabel's time with the Patriots during the dynasty years and his experience as a head coach, one that Titans players continue to rave about, it would be hard for the Krafts to pass on a proven product for one that you haven't seen yet especially when considering the issues that sprung out of the locker room last season.
Players already seem to have bought into the Vrabel program before even getting to work for the 2025 season. It will be interesting to see if that comes to fruition for many of them once they are back in the building, as some have already been put on notice.
But it's clear Vrabel was the right guy for the job at the right time, and he will (hopefully) bring the team back to a state of competitiveness and "we before me" that fans have become accustomed to.