The New England Patriots could turn to a familiar face if they’re to move on from Bill Belichick, this off-season.
According to USA Today’s Cam Marino, the New England Patriots could be angling for a move for now-former Tennessee Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel.
The move, of course, would only come if the team were to part ways with future first-ballot Hall of Famer, Bill Belichick.
“Tapped in with a source just now following Mike Vrabel’s firing in Tennessee. The expectation is that he will be the lead candidate for the New England job, operating under the assumption that the job is open. Bill Belichick will not be returning to coach the Patriots. I’m also told that the Atlanta Falcons are planning a heavy pursuit for Belichick. That is who they want — their lead target at this point. Initial interest was surface level. Atlanta had early conversations about his fit with the team. Those conversations were positive for Belichick.”
Tapped in with a source just now following Mike Vrabel’s firing in Tennessee.
The expectation is that he will be the lead candidate for the New England job, operating under the assumption that the job is open. Bill Belichick will not be returning to coach the Patriots.
I’m…
— Cam Marino (@MarinoNFL) January 9, 2024
Vrabel left the Pittsburgh Steelers for the New England Patriots prior to the 2001 season. During his seven-year run in New England, Vrabel won two Super Bowls as one of the team’s starting linebackers next to legends such as Willie McGinest and Tedy Bruschi.
New England Patriots’ Historic Reign Under Bill Belichick
Just hours after famously resigning as the head coach of the New York Jets on a napkin…yes, a napkin. Bill Belichick was hired as the head coach of the New England Patriots in 2000. This comes after a modest 36-44 tenure as the leader of the sidelines with the Cleveland Browns from 1991 through 1995, and stints with the Patriots and Jets as an assistant from 1996 until his hiring in 2000. Following a 5-11 first season in Foxboro, Belichick righted the ship, most famously due to a certain Tom Brady stepping in for Drew Bledsoe following the latter’s injury in week 2 of the 2001 season.
Even after Bledsoe, who had freshly signed what at the time was the biggest contract in NFL history, Belichick stuck with the hot hand in Brady, who was just months removed from being the 199th pick in the draft. The Patriots would go on to beat ‘The Greatest Show on Turf’ in the form of the Kurt Warner-led St. Louis Rams to secure the franchise’s first Super Bowl win. Belichick and Brady would famously go on to win six Super Bowl titles before Brady’s departure to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following the 2019 season.
Brady went on to win another Super Bowl in Tampa Bay, his seventh, while Belichick was tasked with replacing the best player in the history of the sport…something that the Patriots are still struggling with as the club holds a 4-12 record heading into week 18.
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