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Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff Writer
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. OC intrigue: In his first week as Patriots head coach, Mike Vrabel began meeting with members of the team’s 2024 coaching staff and identifying coaches from other teams to interview.
Building a staff with those who reflect his vision — to teach, develop and inspire by making a connection — is one of his top priorities.
“As with any staff, there’s going to be turnover,” Vrabel said at his introductory news conference. “There’s going to be new coaches, new faces — some that I will have history [with], some that I won’t. That’s what the interview process is.”
Vrabel isn’t putting a timeline on forming a staff, in part because some of the coaches he plans to talk to are still involved in the playoffs and potentially could be involved in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9.
One such example is Detroit Lions defensive line coach/run-game coordinator Terrell Williams, who was one of Vrabel’s most trusted assistants in his six-year tenure as Tennessee Titans head coach. Vrabel thought so highly of Williams that he added assistant head coach to his responsibilities in his final season.
Some around the NFL believe Williams, 50, would be Vrabel’s ideal pick as defensive coordinator. And if that doesn’t happen, Vrabel could look to others who coached alongside Williams in Tennessee, such as Philadelphia Eagles inside linebackers coach Bobby King, Miami Dolphins outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow and Titans passing-game coordinator/cornerbacks coach Chris Harris.
Those are easier-to-identify links to Vrabel in arguably his greatest area of expertise — defense — and names that have been more frequently mentioned in conversations with NFL coaching, front office and agent sources. On special teams, momentum seemed to be building for Vrabel to retain coordinator Jeremy Springer and top assistant Tom Quinn, with Quinn having coached on Vrabel’s staff in Tennessee.
There has been less certainty in those circles on what Vrabel might be thinking for offensive coordinator, which is naturally one of the most important decisions he’ll make. That is due, in part, to the presence of promising quarterback Drake Maye.
Vrabel said on sports radio WEEI that he has a “long list” and confirmed it includes former Las Vegas Raiders head coach and Patriots coordinator Josh McDaniels, who still lives in the region and last worked with the Patriots in 2021 when he worked wonders with then-rookie Mac Jones.
“I’ve had a relationship with Josh, and I’ve had relationships with other offensive coaches and defensive coaches that we’re going to interview and bring in here,” Vrabel said.
Vrabel has the highest regard for Arthur Smith, his former Titans OC and current Pittsburgh Steelers OC. Smith, a former head coach for the Atlanta Falcons, is a head coaching candidate with the New York Jets and Chicago Bears — presumably taking him off the board. Former Titans coaches Tim Kelly (New York Giants TEs coach) and Tony Dews (Jets RBs coach) are among others who have ties to Vrabel and could be on his radar in some form (Kelly was Titans OC in Vrabel’s final season).
When Vrabel was initially hired as Titans coach in 2018, then-Ohio State co-offensive coordinator Ryan Day was among those he pursued as his OC. Day’s mentor, Chip Kelly, currently serves as Ohio State’s OC and would be an outside-the-box possibility for Vrabel to consider. Kelly’s offense will be on display Monday in the College Football Playoff National Championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Vrabel ultimately hired then-Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, who had a one-year stop before becoming Packers head coach (with Smith succeeding him in 2019). Vrabel could also consider a similar approach in 2025, with Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur or even Rams QBs coach Dave Ragone.
The team interviewed Bears passing game coordinator Thomas Brown last week, and has requested permission to speak with Chargers passing game coordinator Marcus Brady, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
As for the vision of what Vrabel hopes the Patriots’ offense will be, he highlighted an “aggressive but not reckless” approach. He said creativity and versatility will be important, too, assuming the players can handle it. That means both zone and gap schemes in the running game, under center and shotgun in the passing game and tempo.
Whom Vrabel chooses to ultimately coordinate it remains one of the team’s most intriguing storylines.
2. Assistants on radar? One point that Boston College head coach Bill O’Brien made during one of Vrabel’s first radio interviews — when O’Brien called to congratulate him — was that Vrabel would create a clear standard for the Patriots with conditioning and weightlifting.
Sources around the NFL expect Vrabel to bring Frank Piraino, his former strength coach in Tennessee, to New England to achieve that goal. Piraino, who knows the area well from his time at Boston College, spent last season with the Giants.
And just as Bill Belichick had football research director Ernie Adams to assist him with game management, Vrabel had John Streicher in that role with the Titans. Now, Streicher is expected to follow Vrabel to New England. Streicher, who like Vrabel is an Ohio State alum, spent the 2024 season with the Rams.
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Bruschi excited by Patriots’ hiring of Vrabel
Tedy Bruschi reacts to the Patriots hiring former teammate Mike Vrabel as head coach.
3. Cowden file: Longtime scout and personnel executive Ryan Cowden, who will be joining the Patriots in a prominent front office role according to a team source, spent the first 16 years of his career with the Panthers and rose through the ranks with Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane and Giants GM Joe Schoen.
“A good evaluator who stands firm,” one longtime executive said.
Cowden and Vrabel crossed paths in Tennessee, where Cowden was hired in 2016, two years before Vrabel took over as head coach. That history was a driving force in Cowden, 46, landing in New England.
4. Judon pick: The Patriots’ trade of outside linebacker Matthew Judon to the Falcons in August yielded the 77th overall pick in 2025 draft — the 13th slot in the third round as a result of the Falcons’ 8-9 record (tied with three other teams). Not a bad return.
Rams starting outside linebacker Byron Young, out of Tennessee, was the 77th pick in the 2023 draft and an example of the type of player the Patriots could land if they draft and develop well.
Meanwhile, Judon is scheduled for unrestricted free agency this offseason.
The Patriots currently have nine picks — first round (No. 4), second round, third round, third round (from Falcons), fourth round, fifth round, seventh round (from Titans), seventh round, seventh round (from Los Angeles Chargers).
TEs coach Bob Bicknell, RBs coach Taylor Embree, WRs coach Tyler Hughes, coaching assistant Keith Jones, and assistant WRs coach Tiquan Underwood are among the Patriots coaches who are moving on in 2025, per sources.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 17, 2025
5. Attendance check: Two players on the Patriots’ roster, center David Andrews and long-snapper Joe Cardona, were present for Vrabel’s introduction. Vrabel approached them after his remarks for a hug.
Cardona shared that one thing stood out from facing Vrabel’s teams: toughness.
Patriots Hall of Famers Troy Brown (skill development coach) and Andre Tippett (executive director of community affairs) were among the notable alums in attendance. Team president Jonathan Kraft was also on hand for the Vrabel announcement.
6. Rhamondre’s visit: Running back Rhamondre Stevenson was still in town last week, which gave him an opportunity to meet Vrabel for the first time since Vrabel was named head coach. Stevenson’s 2024 season didn’t unfold as he hoped, as he finished with 801 yards on 207 carries (3.9 ypc), with seven touchdowns and an NFL-high seven fumbles.
Part of his shaky season was tied to shaky offensive line play, so it had to be music to his ears to hear Vrabel say: “We have to focus on the line. I think the best teams right now in the National Football League are the ones that have the best offensive lines, that are changing the line of scrimmage.”
7. Peppers trial: The jury trial for safety Jabrill Peppers, who in early October pleaded not guilty after being arrested on charges that include strangulation and drug possession, is scheduled for Wednesday. The sides were in court Jan. 10 for a final pretrial hearing in which judge Mark Coven made evidence-based rulings on what would be allowed at the jury trial.
8. Vrabel’s rules: Vrabel said the Patriots won’t have a long list of rules, but it will start with “being on time” and “being respectful.” He also highlighted three themes for players: Put the team first, know what to do and play fast/aggressive.
“Our effort and finish is going to be the contract we make with our teammates,” he said.
9. They said it: “We’re going to remove entitlement from our football team. We’re going to get everything that we’ve earned from the head coach to the position coaches, all the way down to the players. We’re going to earn the right to be here every single day.” — Vrabel, in his introductory news conference
10. Did you know?: Special-teamer Brenden Schooler (first team) and cornerback Christian Gonzalez (second team) were named to the AP All-Pro team, joining punt returner Marcus Jones (2022, first team), special-teamer Matthew Slater (2021, second team) and cornerback J.C. Jackson (2021, second team) as the past five New England players to earn the honor. Left guard Joe Thuney (2019, second team) was the most recent Patriots offensive player to be All-Pro.
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