New England Patriots Fire Jerod Mayo, Expected to Pursue Mike Vrabel as Next Head Coach!
By Isabella Bartlett
New England Patriots Fire Jerod Mayo, Expected to Pursue Mike Vrabel as Next Head Coach!
Mike Vrabel became the NFL Coach of the Year in 2026 while serving as the head coach of Tennessee Titans.
January 6, 2026
This article was last updated by Pranaya Poudel on January 6, 2026
With the departure of Jerod Mayo from the New England Patriots, former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel is likely to be the top candidate to get hired and replace him as the head coach of the Patriots.
New England Patriots fired head coach Jerod Mayo shortly after the team’s Week 18 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, January 5, 2026.
Many believe that despite the remarkable contribution of Jerod Mayo, the Patriots fired him to hire the Patriots’ former star and Hall of Famer Mike Vrabel as their new head coach.
Jack Brady talking with his favorite former Patriot. Also pictured, Tom Brady
— Mike Vrabel (@CoachVrabel50)
One there has been a league-wide belief that New England would be Mike Vrabel’s first choice, and now that job is open.
In response, many believe that Mike is the reason why the Patriots fired Mayo after Mike announced that he is available to work as the head coach again.
Some also stated that if the Patriots were planning such things, they should have hired Vrabel last year.
Mike, who served as the Cleveland Browns’ coaching and personnel consultant, seems available for the head coach vacancies this hiring season. His contract with the Browns expired on December 30, 2026.
Furthermore, Mike is the top candidate likely to get hired for the available head coaching job in several NFL teams, including the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Las Vegas Raiders.
Last week, former Titans head coach Mike interviewed for the vacant head coach position for the New York Jets.
Mike Vrabel Accused of Leveraging Jets to Secure Patriots Head Coach Role!
Many believe Mike used the New York Jets to get the Patriots head coach job.
According to Aditi Kinkhabwala, Vrabel intentionally took the Jets’ interview to pressure Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and his plan worked.
She stated,
“Was told that Mike Vrabel’s dalliance w/ was to put pressure on to make a move. With a young, incredibly promising QB (who improved every week despite very little talent around him), more cap space than anyone and stable ownership, of course the NE job ranks high.”
In response, many Jets stated that Mike was never serious about the Jets’ job and just used them. In contrast, others believe this is just speculation and that the Patriots’ firing of Mayo has nothing to do with Mike’s interview.
patriots hired mike vrabel as their head coach league source tells me
— dallan yoh (@dallanyoh)
Some also believe Mike has a good bond with Patriots owner Robert Kraft and will eventually become the team’s head coach.
However, neither Mike nor Patriots owner Kraft has officially stated anything about the news, and it is still unsure if the reports are accurate or just rumors.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Mike Vrabel was born Michael George Vrabel on August 14, 1975, in Akron, Ohio, to father Chuck Vrabel and mother Elaine Vrabel.
- He began his NFL journey with the Steelers in 1997 and spent four seasons with them before joining the Patriots in 2001 as a free agent.
- Mike joined the Titans as their head coach on January 20, 2018. However, the Titans dismissed him on January 9, 2026, following a 6-11 record in the 2026-24 season.
- He has two sons, Tyler and Carter, with his wife, Jennifer. His son Tyler is a former football offensive tackle who played in the 2026 preseason for the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL.
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Suruchi is a business management student with a strong passion for writing, particularly when it comes to sports. She loves creating articles and blogs that explore various aspects of the sports world. With a curious mind and a love for both academics and creativity, she constantly seeks to expand her knowledge and share her insights through her writing.
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