Bill Belichick's future has never been more in doubt, but if owner Robert Kraft and the New England Patriots opt to move in a different direction, at least one of Belichick's former players has reportedly shown interest in the role.
According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel would have interest in the Patriots job, should it come open.
Vrabel faces an uncertain future, in his own right, after the Titans missed the NFL Playoffs after finishing 6-11 and Tennessee hasn't won a postseason game since the 2019 campaign.
Sources to @BleacherReport: As the #Titans weigh HC Mike Vrabel?s future this week, he?s interested in the idea of returning to the #Patriots, should New England part ways with Bill Belichick. pic.twitter.com/xswyVb1yIE
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 8, 2024
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Vrabel spent 8 of his 14 NFL seasons playing under Belichick, producing 606 total tackles with 55 tackles for loss, and 48.0 sacks while winning three Super Bowl rings and being named the 2007 NFL Defensive Player of The Year and a First-Team All-Pro.
In his six seasons as Titans head coach, Tennessee has gone 54-45 with three trips to the NFL Playoffs during Vrabel's tenure.
Belichick faces an uncertain future, following the most disappointing season of his career.
The Patriots navigated poor and inconsistent quarterback play while limping to a 4-13 record and last-place finish in the AFC East. Belichick, who is a six-time Super Bowl champion, has just a 29-38 record with just one postseason berth since Tom Brady's departure for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to the 2020 season.
If Kraft opts to move off of Belichick, it will be fascinating to see if the Patriots turn to a branch of Belichick's coaching tree given the failures of the 71-year-old's former assistant coaches running their own programs around the league, or imports a fresh voice with a new philosophy for how to return New England to their prior glory.
