With the conclusion of the NFL regular season, the “Black Monday” marks the beginning of the firings of head coaches, assistant coaches, and general managers, kicking off the annual coaching carousel. So far, only two head coaching firings have been announced: Doug Pederson, who had two 9-8 seasons of his three seasons with the Jaguars but finished this year with a losing record and 18 losses in his last 23 games; and Jerod Mayo of the Patriots, who was informed before Sunday’s game that he would not be returning. The Patriots, who now hold the 4th overall pick and have the most salary cap space in the NFL, are left with a coaching vacancy, and whoever steps in will have to turn things around from day one.
Belichick Mocks Patriots Situation
The Patriots finished with a 4-13 record, the same as last season, marking their worst two consecutive seasons (8-26 combined) since 1992-1993 (7-25). Interestingly, current owner Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994, shortly after that slump. The Patriots, who haven’t had three consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance since their seven-season drought from 1987-1993, are feeling the effects of losing the most successful QB-coach tandem in NFL history, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. On “The Pat McAfee Show,” where Belichick is a regular guest, he was asked about Mayo’s firing after just one year. His expected response was: “They didn’t call me and ask.”
At 72, Belichick signed a five-year contract with the University of North Carolina last month, making him the oldest head coach in the NCAA. Returning to the Patriots or the NFL was never part of his plans, especially after last season, which was his worst with the team with just four wins. In the 18 seasons Brady and Belichick led the Patriots, their worst record was 9-7 in 2002, Brady’s second year as a starter. So, Patriots fans, while you may be in uncharted territory, there are many to celebrate this decline after the Patriots dominated the league, winning six Super Bowls in nine appearances – basically making it to the big game every other year.
Patriots’ Future Depends on New Head Coach
The Patriots need a culture change starting with the head coach and a fresh start within a well-run franchise, just like the Chargers did when they signed Jim Harbaugh. Their top candidate is a former player, Mike Vrabel, who was a linebacker for the New England Patriots from 2001 to 2008, winning three Super Bowls alongside Tom Brady. Vrabel has only coached one team, the Tennessee Titans, for six seasons, where he posted a 54-45 regular season record and a 2-3 playoff record, earning Coach of the Year honors in 2021. His consecutive 10-win seasons (2020-21) were the franchise’s first since 2007 and 2008.
Given Vrabel’s familiarity and respect within the organization, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him become the Patriots’ next head coach. However, other teams in need of leadership will likely pursue him as well. Vrabel and Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, are among the top candidates for teams like the Patriots, Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars. The New Orleans Saints and New York Jets are also expected to enter the head coaching market, while the Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders have not made any announcements but are likely to join the search for new leadership.
