With the NFL regular season set to wrap up, just under half of the league will be preparing for the playoffs. The rest will take some down time and then put all of their focus on improving during the offseason. For some teams, that’s easier due to having a plan in place and “their guy” at head coach and at quarterback.
The New England Patriots should be one of the teams that feel that way, but as of this moment, they can only really say they have their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye. As for the head coach, Jerod Mayo left more questions than answers in his first season at the helm. It’s not often we see a head coach be one-and-done in the NFL, but is it possible that’s what we get with Mayo?
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Could Ben Johnson replace Jerod Mayo as head coach?
According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the New England job opening up could attract the top name on the market: Ben Johnson.
If New England did come open, might Johnson want to go work with quarterback Drake Maye and the haul of draft picks the Pats can likely acquire for this year’s No. 1 pick? Johnson has been choosy and has made it clear he’s not going to leave the excellent situation he’s currently in with the Lions for just any old coaching job.
The Patriots roster isn’t exactly filled to the brim with talent, so it would be a bit harsh on Mayo to can him after just one season. But owner Robert Kraft is 83 years old and likely wants to see renewed success very soon. Ditching a defensive-minded head coach for an offensive mastermind, with the exciting Maye at quarterback, could be the right move. Patriots fans certainly seem to think so.
Mike Vrabel could be an option as well, given his ties with the franchise from his playing days. Vrabel has success winning at the NFL level as a head coach, but he’s also a defensive guy like Mayo. Johnson would truly bring a fresh perspective. The question is whether Kraft wants to make such a big, and possibly risky, move.
