Predicting what will happen to the Patriots’ current assistant coaches under their new head coach.
The New England Patriots firing head coach Jerod Mayo within hours of their season finale sent shockwaves throughout the organization, and left his former staff in the spotlight. As of today, only two coaches have officially left the team — Mayo as well as defensive assistant Keith Jones — but more moves are expected to follow under new HC Mike Vrabel.
What will they look like, though? That is anybody’s guess at this point in time. For now, let’s put on our predictor hats based on the information available to find out who might be in or out under Vrabel heading into 2025.
Offensive coaches
Alex Van Pelt (Offensive coordinator): From a purely results-based perspective, Van Pelt’s days in New England appear to be numbered: his offense ranked 30th in the NFL during the regular season, averaging only 17.0 points per game. However, his work with quarterback Drake Maye cannot go unnoticed either and is a factor working in his favor. Ultimately, though, the belief is that he will not remain with the organization as its offensive coordinator. A new role could be a possibility, but it feels like Vrabel wants a clean slate. | Prediction: Out
T.C. McCartney (Quarterbacks): Drake Maye’s position coach in 2024, McCartney falls in the same basic category as Van Pelt. Unless the expected new offensive coordinator wants to keep him around in order to ensure stability with Maye’s immediate supporting cast, it seems unlikely that he will be wearing Patriots gear under a head coach Mike Vrabel and TBD offensive coordinator. | Prediction: Out
Evan Rothstein (Assistant quarterbacks/Director of game management): Rothstein has been a jack of all trades since joining the Patriots alongside Matt Patricia in 2021, but his outlook appears to be murky for one reason. There is speculation, Vrabel is looking to bring John Streicher, a current game management assistant with the Los Angeles Rams, aboard; Streicher previously worked with Vrabel in Tennessee for six years, filling various roles including director of football administration. | Prediction: In (new role)
Taylor Embree (Running backs): The Patriots had high hopes for their running game in 2024, but the group did not perform at the desired level. Not all of the blame for that falls on the players themselves or their coach, but Taylor Embree’s outlook is still unclear as a result. From our perspective, he is trending toward “out.” | Prediction: Out
Tyler Hughes (Wide receivers): During his first media round, Mike Vrabel mentioned the need to get consistent production out of the wide receiver position — something that was not the case under first-year position coach Tyler Hughes in 2024. Vrabel will be looking for a fresh start at the position, and that might include removing Hughes, who did attend the new head coach’s introductory presser, from WR duties. | Prediction: Out
Tiquan Underwood (Assistant wide receivers): While his outlook does not necessarily have to be tied to Tyler Hughes, Underwood remaining on the Patriots’ coaching staff in 2025 seems unlikely. The wideouts simply did not play well enough across the board last season for there not to be major changes on and off the field. | Prediction: Out
Bob Bicknell (Tight ends): The tight end group was one of the few positives for the Patriots offense in 2024. That and the fact that Bicknell and Vrabel crossed paths in Kansas City in 2009, when the linebacker/tight end hybrid was acquired via trade from New England, probably help his case. | Prediction: In
Scott Peters (Offensive line): During his first official day at the job, Mike Vrabel hinted toward a focus on wide zone as the primary blocking scheme in his offense. That is Scott Peters’ bread and butter, and something he helped implement in 2024 as well. The results did not look the part, however, creating serious questions about his staying power under a potential new offensive coordinator. | Prediction: Out
Robert Kugler (Assistant offensive line): Kugler, who also attended the introductory presser, might be a package deal with Peters. That does not necessarily have to be the case, but the likeliest outcome still appears to be him leaving if there is turnover at the O-line coach position above him. | Prediction: Out
Ben McAdoo (Senior offensive assistant): McAdoo had a somewhat title for the Patriots in 2024, and his versatile role looked the part as well: he helped with the quarterbacks, was involved in game planning, and ran pre-game meetings on offense. Depending on the incoming offensive coordinator, there might be value in keeping the experienced McAdoo around. | Prediction: In
Defensive coaches
DeMarcus Covington (Defensive coordinator): Still only 35, Covington’s future is likely brighter than the Patriots’ lackluster 2024 season might suggest. However, Mike Vrabel bringing in a new coordinator to lead his defense would not be any surprise either. Fact is, after all, that the unit struggled throughout the year and took a significant step back from the previous seasons. | Prediction: Out
Jerry Montgomery (Defensive line): Losing Christian Barmore for most of the year certainly did not help, but the issues with New England’s defensive line ran deeper than missing its best player. Montgomery being back therefore seems like a long shot at this point in time. | Prediction: Out
Drew Wilkins (Outside linebackers): The Patriots’ outside linebacker group underwent constant personnel turnover in 2024, with only Anfernee Jennings remaining on the active roster from start to finish. Wilkins may have had little to work with, but New England’s soft edges remained a problem regardless of personnel. | Prediction: Out
Dont’a Hightower (Inside linebackers): Hightower is a Patriots legend and a well-respected presence in the team’s locker and meetings rooms. He also is inexperienced as a coach, getting his first opportunity just last season. The inside linebackers did not look good after losing Ja’Whaun Bentley, but Hightower finding a role with the team in 2025 could still happen. | Prediction: In (new role)
Mike Pellegrino (Cornerbacks): The cornerback group has been arguably the Patriots’ best over the last few years, and Mike Pellegrino one of the top position coaches in all of football along the way. New England keeping him around regardless of who will be the next defensive coordinator would be a smart move from this point of view. | Prediction: In
Brian Belichick (Safeties): Belichick joining his father and brother at the University of North Carolina always seems like a possibility. However, considerations about his own young family — plus the fact that he genuinely seems to enjoy life in New England and working for the Patriots organization — might just end up keeping him around. | Prediction: In
Special teams coaches
Jeremy Springer (Special teams coordinator): After a rough couple of seasons, the Patriots’ special teams units found a way to bounce back amid an overall challenging 2024 — all that without perennial All-Pro Matthew Slater to serve as an on-field leader. With Springer and new All-Pro Brenden Schooler taking charge, New England has something to build on in the game’s third phase. | Prediction: In
Tom Quinn (Special teams assistant): If Jeremy Springer stays put, chances are his assistants will as well. First among them is Tom Quinn, who actually crossed paths with Mike Vrabel in Tennessee: Quinn was a special teams assistant for the Titans in 2023. | Prediction: In
Coby Tippett (Special teams assistant): The son of Patriots Hall of Famer Andre Tippett also seems likely to remain on staff if Mike Vrabel opts to keep things in place after a relatively successful 2024. Frankly, there are no significant reasons other than a lack of familiarity to shake things up. | Prediction: In
If you’re keeping tally, our prediction is nine coaches staying — including two getting reassigned — and ten leaving the team. That does not include current coaching assistants Michael McCarthy and Omar Young on offense, as well as Vinny DePalma and Jamael Lett on defense, all of whom seemingly a coin flip.
Ultimately, Mike Vrabel will have to make the call on who to keep and who to let go. However, there is some potential for stability especially in the secondary and on special teams.