Business is starting to pick up in the New England Patriots’ ongoing search for a new head coach. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the team has reportedly had contract talks with former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel to take over the job.
The Patriots interviewed Vrabel on Thursday without much news coming from the meeting. With that said, he is believed to be the team’s top candidate, with Ben Johnson being an alternative option if things fall through.
During “The Insiders,” Ian Rapoport called Vrabel the “overwhelming favorite” to land the job, and Pelissero added a contract nugget to the initial report.
“My understanding is there have been contract talks between the Patriots and Mike Vrabel’s agent,” said Pelissero. “So potentially, a big domino that could fall here in the coming days.”
The belief has always been that the Patriots wanted to move fast on their next coaching hire after firing Jerod Mayo.
They’ve already satisfied the Rooney Rule with their earlier interviews with Byron Leftwich and Pep Hamilton, a move that has drawn significant criticism from outsiders and people within the building.
So they are free to engage in contract talks and eventually hire Vrabel as their next head coach.