Because Jerod Mayo's job is presumably at stake during the Patriots final game of the 2024 season, his potential replacements have been the hottest topic of discussion around New England, with the primary focus continuing to be on Mike Vrabel.
Since he was fired from his head coaching gig with the Titans last year, he has been serving as a coaching and personnel consultant for the Browns, and the latest updates claim his contract expired this week.
That means the former linebacker and three-time Super Bowl Champion is free to interview for head coaching vacancies, which are only the Bears and Jets until the offseason begins. However, his preferences for his next destination are finally being revealed, which works in the Patriots' favor.
That could become far more significant over the next few weeks, depending on the direction Robert Kraft decides to go regarding Mayo's future. Because the owner was reportedly interested in Vrabel last year, hearing that the former player is intrigued by the idea of returning to his longtime team might make the decision to let go of the current regime a bit easier.
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Mike Vrabel's hopes for his next team put the Patriots at the top of the list as his most likely destinations
According to the Athletic's Dianna Russini, Vrabel is already favoring a few teams that could be or already are looking for a new head coach, including the Patriots, and he's hoping to prioritize a few factors before deciding which job to take.
“Another potential landing spot: the New England Patriots, if they decide to move on from Jerod Mayo after a disastrous first season. Vrabel played eight seasons for the Patriots, winning three Super Bowls, and was inducted into their Ring of Honor in 2023.
Vrabel is expected to prioritize openings with a positive ownership situation and teams with either a quality quarterback in place or a path to getting one in the near future.”
If Kraft was looking for a sign to bring Vrabel in, this might be it.
It's far from certain what he will ultimately decide, especially since the constant updates regarding Mayo's status continue to conflict. The latest suggests that the Patriots' game against the Bills next weekend will be heavily considered in the decision, more so if it goes as poorly as it did last week against the Chargers.
While that is a hot-button issue amongst Patriots Nation, given how the team has performed for most of this season, it's still possible Mayo will remain in place for next year. But if Kraft changes his mind, Vrabel looks ready to accept the job tomorrow if offered.