There are already six head coach openings in the NFL; could the New England Patriots make it seven? For weeks there have been rumors swirling that the team was going to part ways with head coach Bill Belichick, but a final determination has not yet been made.
The two sides are set to meet later this week to figure everything out for the future. Belichick will be given a chance to lay out a plan that will lead to the Patriots getting back on track, which could include bringing back Josh McDaniels for a third stint as offensive coordinator.
However, NFL writer Mike Sando of The Athletic believes that the Patriots will go in a different direction. Not only has he predicted that they will move on from Belichick, but that they will hire someone with ties to the team from outside the franchise.
NFL News & Rumors: Bill Belichick, Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots Updates
That person, in Sando’s opinion, will be Mike Vrabel. At the time Sando wrote his piece, Vrabel had not yet been fired by the Tennessee Titans, as he was let go this afternoon. But, in the opinion of executives around the league, the writing was on the wall despite local beat reporters pushing back against it.
“I think it totally makes sense,” a former AFC South exec said of Vrabel leaving the Titans. “I think he wants more power. There are going to be some tough discussions, and if he doesn’t get what he wants, then look out. That is my opinion.”
The Patriots looked to be paving a path for former linebacker Jerod Mayo to be the successor to Belichick, but that plan could change now that Vrabel is readily available.
Expecting the coach that follows Belichick to replicate what he was able to accomplish with the Patriots would be a foolish precedent to set. But, if they are looking for someone who will carry themselves in a similar manner, Vrabel could be their guy.
NFL News & Rumors: Bill Belichick, Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots Updates
“Vrabel wants to win the same way Bill wins, with defense and detailed play on special teams,” another exec said. “The difference is, Vrabel has built playoff teams and won playoff games with a mid-tier quarterback (Ryan Tannehill).”
It is easy to connect the dots of Vrabel to the Patriots now that he is a free agent. It will be something to keep an eye on, as the rumors are only going to get louder until a final decision is made about the future of the head coaching position in New England.
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