The Patriots have been in an uncommon situation over the past two years having to find a new head coach for the first time since before the millennium. After another underwhelming season in 2023, Robert Kraft chose to move on from Bill Belichick and replace him with Jerod Mayo, only to end up in the same situation a year later by firing him after just one season.
In both offseasons, former linebacker and ex-Titans head coach Mike Vrabel was a name connected to the franchise as the best option for the vacancy, but he wasn't available to succeed Belichick when Kraft wanted to hire a head coach, on top of guaranteeing Mayo that role years prior.
So it was a surprise to no one when he ultimately landed the job this year, beating out another frontrunner in the eyes of many head coach-needy teams, Ben Johnson.
But the latest rumor suggests the Patriots might not have been Vrabel's first choice of destination after a one-year stint with the Browns.
Mike Vrabel reveals he was open to remaining with the Browns beyond the 2024 season
After being abruptly dismissed after six years in Tennessee, Vrabel didn't land another head coaching gig for the 2024 season. Instead, he joined the Browns as a coaching and personnel assistant on a one year contract, making him a free agent at the end of the year.
That worked in the Patriots' favor, as he became available far sooner than many other head coaching candidates, allowing them to speak with him much earlier than other teams. However, the feeling of becoming the Patriots' next coach was seemingly not mutual at first, since Vrabel revealed he was open to staying in Cleveland another season had they offered him a job.
I asked Mike Vrabel if there ever was a conversation in Cleveland of a permanent position with the Browns.
— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) February 25, 2025
‘No … but I would have listened. I mean, I didn’t have a job.’ pic.twitter.com/2plO6K2CDK
At the same time, however, it wouldn't be at all surprising if he had his eyes on New England but didn't think they would move on from Mayo after one season. That was the assumption around the league given what he had to work with and his inexperience in the role, only for Kraft to fire him within an hour of the team's season finale game against the Bills.
It would also be fair to assume that he was hoping to get another shot at being a head coach, and this offseason, it seemed like he would have the best chance to do that. He was widely considered a frontrunner for most vacancies, leading to an interview with the Jets and speculation about landing with the Raiders due to Tom Brady's presence.
Instead, Vrabel wound up where he probably should have been all along and will now be the next head coach of the New England Patriots. He will use his previous experience and expertise to get them back on track and hopefully back in the playoffs.