Who is on Mike Vrabel’s radar for Patriots coordinators?

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick thoughts and notes about the New England Patriots and the 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 of those who reflect his vision – to teach, develop and inspire by connecting – is one of his top priorities.

“As with all employees, there will be turnover,” Vrabel said at his introductory press conference. “There will be new coaches, new faces – some that I want history (with), some that I don’t. That’s what the interview process is like.”

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 could potentially 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 during 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 choice as defensive coordinator. And if that doesn’t happen, Vrabel can look to others who coached with Williams at Tennessee, such as Philadelphia Eagles inside linebackers coach Bobby King, Miami Dolphins outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow and Titans coordinator/cornerbacks coach Chris Harris.

It’s easier to identify links to Vrabel in arguably his biggest area of ​​expertise — defense — and names that have been mentioned more often in conversations with NFL coaching, front office and agent sources. On special teams, momentum appeared to be building for Vrabel to retain coordinator Jeremy Springer and top assistant Tom Quinn, where Quinn had coached on Vrabel’s staff at Tennessee.

There has been less certainty in those circles about what Vrabel might be thinking as offensive coordinator, which is obviously one of the most important decisions he will make. That’s due in part to the presence of promising quarterback Drake Maye.

Vrabel said on sports radio station WEEI that he has a “long list” and confirmed that 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 back 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 respect for Arthur Smith, his former Titans OC and current Pittsburgh Steelers OC. Smith, a former head coach of 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 capacity (Kelly was the Titans OC in Vrabel’s last season ).

When Vrabel was originally hired as the 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 option 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 layoff before becoming the 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, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

As for the vision of what Vrabel hopes the Patriots’ offense will be, he highlighted an “aggressive but not ruthless” approach. He said creativity and versatility will also be important, provided the players can handle it. This means both zone and gap schemes in the running game, under center and shotgun in the passing game and tempo.

Who Vrabel ultimately chooses to coordinate it remains one of the team’s most intriguing stories.

2. Assistants on radar? One point 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 set a clear standard for the Patriots with conditioning and weightlifting.

Sources around the NFL expect Vrabel to bring Frank Piraino, his former strength coach at Tennessee, to New England to accomplish 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 director of football research Ernie Adams to help 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.

3. Cowden File: Longtime scouting and personnel director Ryan Cowden, who a team source says will join the Patriots in a prominent front office role, spent the first 16 years of his career with the Panthers, rising through the ranks with Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane and Giants GM Joe Shoe.

“A good evaluator who stands firm,” said one longtime manager.

Cowden and Vrabel crossed paths at 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 choice: The Patriots’ trade of outside linebacker Matthew Judon to the Falcons in August yielded the 77th overall pick in the 2025 draft — the 13th third-round slot as a result of the Falcons’ 8-9 record (tied with three other teams). Not a bad return.

Rams starting outside linebacker Byron Young, 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, assistant coach Keith Jones and assistant WR coach Tiquan Underwood are among the Patriots coaches moving on in 2025, according to sources.

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) 17 January 2025

5. Attendance control: Two players on the Patriots’ roster, center David Andrews and long-snapper Joe Cardona, were on hand for Vrabel’s introduction. Vrabel approached them after his remarks for a hug.

Cardona said one thing stood out from facing Vrabel’s team: toughness.

Patriots Hall of Famers Troy Brown (Skills Development Coach) and Andre Tippett (Director of Community Affairs) were among the alumni 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, giving him an opportunity to meet Vrabel for the first time since Vrabel was named head coach. Stevenson’s 2024 season didn’t pan out 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’ve got to focus on the line. I think the best teams right now in National Football League, they’re the ones with the best offensive lines that change the line of scrimmage.”

7. Pepper’s Experiment: The jury trial for safety Jabrill Peppers, who pleaded not guilty in early October after being arrested on charges that include strangulation and drug possession, is scheduled for Wednesday. The parties were in court Jan. 10 for a final hearing, where Judge Mark Coven made evidence-based rulings on what would be admissible 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/aggressively.

“Our effort and finish becomes the contract we make with our teammates,” he said.

9. They said that: “We’re going to take rights away from our football team. We’re going to get everything 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 at his introductory press 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 JC Jackson (2021, second team) as the last five New England players to earn the honor. Left guard Joe Thuney (2019, second team) was the most recent Patriots offensive lineman to be All-Pro.