With just three games left to be played this season, the conversation surrounding Jerod Mayo's future as the Patriots head coach has heightened, with many fans throwing potential replacements around they would like to see Robert Kraft hire this upcoming offseason.
Although it's far from a guarantee that significant changes will be made to the coaching staff, including moving on from Mayo after just one season, that hasn't stopped the debate of who would be best to take over the team next. From idolizing the addition of current Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to bringing back another former Patriots defender in Mike Vrabel, the list continues to lengthen for Mayo's potential successors.
Like those already mentioned, a few names remain at the top of the list, with the former Titans head coach moving his way to the top early on. Because Vrabel was considered the favorite for the job if Bill Belichick was fired, his name continues to be speculated about now.
He had a successful tenure in Tennessee, and the NFL world was shocked when he was let go at the end of the 2023 season. He has since been hired by the Browns as their coaching and personnel consultant, but he is still looking to pick up his head coaching career in the future, which might mean in New England.
Patriots insider claims Mike Vrabel would like to replace Jerod Mayo as the Patriots head coach
While discussing the Patriots' latest loss last Sunday and what that could mean for Mayo's future in Foxboro, Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston mentioned Vrabel as a potential replacement, stating the former linebacker would seriously consider the role.
“Mike Vrabel would be interested in coaching for the New England Patriots. I think that he (Vrabel) looks at the Patriots, and despite the warts, says, I’ll go back there.”
Besides the rumors about Kraft's interest in bringing Vrabel in, it seemed like he also liked the idea of returning to his former team during the 2023 season, as he was put in the team's Hall of Fame during the Titans' bye week. He then watched the game with Kraft in the owners' box, and that was rumored to be, in part, why the Titans decided to let him go.
It will be a difficult decision for Kraft to make and not one that will come any time soon. It's hard to imagine he would be willing to admit he made a mistake by hiring Mayo and let him go after one year, but if the idea of adding Vrabel entices him, this offseason might be his only chance to hire him before he goes elsewhere.
Vrabel is considered to be among the top candidates for head coaching vacancies next offseason, and with a handful of teams expected to be looking for new coaches, it's more likely than not that he will be hired by one of them.