As the New England Patriots' season spirals towards what could be a disastrous finish, significant changes to their coaching staff are starting to feel inevitable. With first-year head coach Jerod Mayo potentially on the hot seat, speculation about potential replacements has already begun to swirl.
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One name that keeps coming up is former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel, most recently the head coach of the Tennessee Titans and currently a "special advisor" to his hometown Cleveland Browns.
According to Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal, Vrabel would have legitimate interest in coming back to New England if the head coaching job were to become available. And he might not be alone in making a return. Bedard notes that "there's a pretty good chance that Josh McDaniels would come with him," suggesting a possible reunion of two key figures from the Patriots' most successful era.
"Vrabel would have an interest in coaching the New England Patriots," Bedard said. "I think there's a pretty good chance that Josh McDaniels would come with him. That's my understanding. That's what I'm hearing."
It's not just Bedard who's heard these rumblings. Several NFL insiders have echoed the sentiment that Vrabel would be open to a return, especially given the current state of affairs in New England.
The Patriots are facing a dismal 3-11 record after their latest loss to the Arizona Cardinals, and Mayo's tenure as head coach is already under heavy scrutiny. A comment made by Mayo in his postgame press conference didn't help matters, fueling further doubts about his leadership.
Of course, the Patriots' commitment to Mayo as their coach-in-waiting complicates the situation. Bill Belichick's departure was supposed to make Mayo the natural successor, and New England's ownership, led by Robert Kraft, seemed ready to give Mayo time to prove himself.
However, with the Patriots stumbling toward what could be a historically bad season, Kraft, who is 83 years old, may find it difficult to stay patient with his new head coach.
Vrabel, who played linebacker for the Patriots during their Super Bowl-winning years in the early 2000s, has already proven himself as a head coach with the Titans.
He's been consistently competitive, even in the face of roster limitations, and has shown a knack for galvanizing his team. The chance to bring him back, especially alongside McDaniels—who served as the offensive coordinator during New England's six Super Bowl titles in the Brady/Belichick era—could be too appealing for Kraft to ignore.
Some believe Kraft is determined to show the Patriots can remain competitive without Tom Brady and Belichick, and that means making sure the right leadership is in place.
As the days tick down toward the offseason, the pressure on Jerod Mayo will only intensify. If the losses continue to mount, Kraft may have to make the tough decision of letting Mayo go and pulling the trigger on a big-name reunion that could change the trajectory of the Patriots' future.
With Vrabel and McDaniels both seemingly interested, this coaching carousel is far from over.
