Patriots hire Saints head coach target Mike Vrabel

By Ross Jackson

The first domino of the 2025 NFL head coaching cycle has fallen in a move that surprises absolutely no one.

Per several reports including NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the New England Patriots have hired former linebacker and ex-Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel as their next head coach.

Reports of contract negotiations began Saturday afternoon, with all signs pointing to nearing an agreement. 

The Patriots were the latest team to enter the head coach search, but become the first to land their guy. The team moved on from head coach Jerod Mayo after just one year, despite having been hand-picked by former head coach Bill Belichick ahead of his 2024 offseason departure. 

Mayo was fired the evening of New England’s final regular season game, a 23-16 victory over a Mitch Trubisky-led Buffalo Bills team that was locked in for its playoff seeding.

From the moment Mayo was surprisingly fired, the immediate expectations were that Vrabel, a former Patriots player himself, would be the next head coach in Foxboro.

The New Orleans Saints, who opened their head coaching position following a Week 9 loss to the Carolina Panthers, reportedly thought highly of Vrabel. However, with the Patriots entering the race, the fit in New England was just too good for the second-time head coach to consider many other offers.

The Saints did not conduct an official interview with Vrabel, but expressed their interest. However, for the head coach, there was no need to have more conversations than necessary. Whether that hiring signals a return to the winning ways of the “Patriot Way” remains to be seen, but it’s certainly as natural a fit as any in this season’s coaching carousel.

With Vrabel off the market, here are the Saints’ remaining candidates they have either interviewed or requested to interview.

Virtual Interviews Completed:

Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver (interviewed Thursday)

New York Giants offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Mike Kafka (Friday)

Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn (Saturday)

Interviews Expected This Week:

Interim head coach Darren Rizzi

Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady

Requested Interviews:

Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury

Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore