Typically, at this point in any offseason, almost every coaching staff is established, and any that remain unsigned are unlikely to have a job for the upcoming season. That is especially true for a team like the Patriots, which kept their staff from the previous season, but Mike Vrabel continues to make changes and has just hired another old friend for the defense.
Multiple NFL insiders announced that Shane Bowen, who most recently served as the New York Giants' defensive coordinator, was hired by the Patriots to be a defensive analyst.
He spent time with Vrabel with the Titans, and since then, has earned a reputation for not being all that great at coaching, hence the Giants' decision to move on before the 2025 season was even over. He likely would've been let go, anyway, since Brian Daboll had been fired, but it's still notable he was let go midseason.
He now hopes to get his career back on track in New England, but Patriots fans aren't too thrilled given his most recent struggles.
Patriots fans are already questioning Mike Vrabel's decision to hire Shane Bowen
Although it's not uncommon for head coaches to hire their friends or former colleagues, there's not always a good reason to reunite with them on a new team if they weren't recently successful wherever they're coming from.
That's the case with Bowen, who has a history with Vrabel that dates back to their days at Ohio State and to their time together with the Texans after they entered the NFL coaching ranks, and now they'll be working together again in Foxboro.
He lasted just two years with the Giants, and 2025 was noticeably bad for their defense, despite the number of star talents on the roster. They underperformed and underdelivered, which is likely why Bowen was fired; now he will serve as a defensive analyst for the Patriots.
What that entails is hard to say, but it's easy to be pessimistic about what he brings to the table, based on his most recent resume. Hopefully, he will be a valuable addition to the room, but we'll have to see what his job title actually means and how that translates onto the roster over the next few months.