After finishing the season with a 4-13 record, owner Robert Kraft knew he needed a change. Despite hiring head coach Jerod Mayo to succeed the legendary Bill Belichick,
Kraft felt that changing the direction of the team needed to start with a fresh start. The first-time head coach was fired a few hours after winning the last game of the season. This sparked some controversy throughout the fanbase, some believing Mayo did not get a fair chance while others stood by the team. John Leone, a Junior, believes that the Patriots needed a coach with “multiple years of experience.” This was a major flaw with Jerod Mayo as he lacked experience as a coach, never mind as a head coach.
Either way, the Patriots were able to sign one of the top head coaches on the market, Mike Vrabel. On January 13th, it was announced that Vrable would become the new head coach for the New England Patriots.
The former Patriots linebacker played eight years on the team (2001-2008). After winning three Super Bowls with the Patriots, he is well respected within the front office and fanbase. His history with the team puts him above the other candidates. Noah Rawoof, a junior, believes that his experience under Belichick will help the team make it back to the “patriot way” and establish a winning culture with the team.
Previously the Tennessee Titans head coach was fired last year after going 54-45 through his tenure with the team. Although his last season ended in a 6-11 finish, the stats are deceiving. Winning the 2021 AP Coach of the Year, Vrabel has proven that he has the potential to flip the luck for the Patriots roster.
The bottom line is that the Patriots can improve their roster in every aspect. Their first move of the off-season was getting a head coach who could develop their young stars like Drake Maye and Christian Gonzalez. To do that they must use the $120.5 million in cap space to get it done. Glaring weaknesses on the offensive line, defensive line, and in the receiver, room give Vrabel and the front office a tall task.
On the bright side, the Patriots look ahead to the 2025 season with the 2nd easiest schedule (based on 2024 records) according to NFL Nerd on X. Fans are excited to see what the former Patriots linebacker can do with a young team. Only time will tell if Vrabel meets the grand expectations that the fans are demanding this season.
