Mike Vrabel is viewed as the favorite to become the next head coach of the New England Patriots, and there is talk that he could bring another former member of the organization with him if he lands the job.
There is a wide-ranging belief that the Patriots fired Jerod Mayo after one season in part because Vrabel is available. Vrabel may have even tried to pressure New England to move on from Mayo by taking a head coach interview with another team.
If Vrabel is hired by the Patriots, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler says there is “buzz” around the NFL that Josh McDaniels could return to the team as offensive coordinator.
“There is buzz in some coaching circles that Josh McDaniels could be a prime candidate to be Vrabel’s offensive coordinator,” Fowler wrote. “That would be quite the nostalgia tandem, and though McDaniels is a two-time failed head coach, no one disputes his coordinator chops.”
Fowler also notes that Vrabel remains the “heavy favorite” to land in New England, though there are questions about what level of personnel control the former Pro Bowl linebacker might want.
This is not the first we have heard about McDaniels and Vrabel potentially returning to the Patriots together. Vrabel played in New England from 2001-2008 and won three Super Bowls with the team. McDaniels was an assistant on Bill Belichick’s staff for Vrabel’s entire tenure with the Pats.
McDaniels has not had an NFL job since he was fired as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders last season. If the Patriots are looking to prioritize experience with their new coaching staff, both Vrabel and McDaniels have plenty of it.
