Who will Mike Vrabel bring in to run the Patriots’ offense?
Mike Vrabel will be the New England Patriots’ next head coach. Who he will pick to run the offense is the first big question he’ll have to answer.
The New England Patriots have their new head coach. On Sunday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was the first to report that the team is hiring Mike Vrabel as the 16th head coach in Patriots history.
In Vrabel the Patriots are getting an experienced head coach who has proven he can build a program and establish a culture. After a year of lacking direction under Jerod Mayo, the Patriots now have a coach that has a track record of getting things moving in the right direction in the building, working as one, and creating sustained success.
Like any of the candidates the Patriots invertivewed though, there are questions when it comes to Vrabel in the head coaching role. The biggest one? What he’ll do with the offense.
Coming into the season the Patriots’ offense is at a crucial point. Last year the organization successfully did one of the hardest things for an NFL team to do from an offensive standpoint, it getting a rookie quarterback off and running in the right direction. The first stage of Drake Maye’s development went as well as could reasonably be expected, but there’s still a ways to go while also building out the offense around him both in terms of scheme and personnel.
That’s not Vrabel’s area of expertise. However, that doesn’t mean he can’t hire the right people to run the offense on his staff (a big part of program building). That’s what he did when he was in Tennessee, with his teams ranking in the top half of the league in offense three times and the top 10 twice.
While Vrabel should try to replicate (and really improve) on the setup he’ll need in Tennessee, he’ll likely need to find new coaches to help him do that. Of the four coordinators he had in Tennessee two are now in comparable or better jobs between Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
Who Vrabel will hire as his offensive coordinator is his first major decision as Patriots’ head coach. On top of that, given how often successful offensive coordinators can be hired away, he’ll also need to have options on his staff below the OC who can be ‘in the pipeline’ as potential future offensive coordinators. Having a ‘next-man-up’ would allow the team to keep familiarity and continuity on the offensive side of the ball despite personnel turnover.
WATCH: Andrew Callahan on Mike Vrabel & the Patriots
Vrabel should have a wide range of candidates to pick from – working with Maye should be an attractive concept to any offensive coach. In these situations though, coaches usually hire somebody they have at least some familiarity with.
For Vrabel, he has multiple pools of experience to pull from. In addition to his time playing for the Patriots and leading the Titans he also had stops with Ohio State, the Houston Texans, and this year the Cleveland Browns.
Working forward chronologically, let’s look at Vrabel’s career stops for coaching who are potential offensive coordinator candidates, or are otherwise fits for different roles in an offensive staff in New England. Which coaches he overlapped with could be on his radar now? We’ll start with his first NFL stop, with the Pittsburgh Steelers. We’ll make the player stops quick, because as a linebacker Vrabel likely didn’t interact with the offensive coaches as much (although he probably did some, given his role on offense).
Vrabel’s Steelers tenure (player, 1997-2000)
At this point we’re going back almost 30 years, so most of the coaches Vrabel played for in Pittsburgh have aged out. However, while in Pittsburgh Vrabel was teammates with Hines Ward. Ward got into coaching after a brief media career and has spent time with the Steelers and Jets as well as at the college level. He’s currently the wide receivers coach at Arizona State.
It’s still early to consider Ward an offensive coordinator candidate at this point. That being said, he could be a candidate to bring on staff and get into the pipeline as a potential OC down the road.
Vrabel’s Patriots tenure (player, 2001-2008)
The biggest Patriots connection for Vrabel at this point is Josh McDaniels, who was on staff for most of Vrabel’s time with the Patriots including as offensive coordinator for the final three years.
Prior to Vrabel’s official hiring, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that there is “buzz” that McDaniels “could be a prime candidate” for the OC job in New England under Vrabel. It would be McDaniels’ third stint as offensive coordinator of the Patriots.
If McDaniels were the hire, he’d bring experience and consistency to the position overall. There would also be the added bonus that unlike many top coordinators, he’s not a flight risk to be poached for a head coaching job (at least not for a very long time).
McDaniels had success beyond Tom Brady, with his rookie Mac Jones-led offense ranking sixth in the NFL in 2021. However between Brady, Jones, and coaches at other stops most of his success is with true pocket passers. Maye represents a departure from McDaniels’ typical offensive system.
How would he adjust? We saw glimpses of his scheme with a more mobile quarterback in 2020 with Cam Newton, but that’s an incredibly limited sample size for a number of reasons.
McDaniels’ plan to maximize Maye and adapt his system accordingly should be vetted in the interview process. Even if Vrabel views him as a “prime candidate” going into the process, he should be willing to look elsewhere if the plan laid out isn’t satisfactory.
Vrabel’s Chiefs tenure (player, 2009-2010)
There aren’t really any offensive coordinator candidates from the Chiefs’ staffs during Vrabel’s tenure in Kansas City. The most notable name on that staff offensively was Nick Sirianni, who was a quality control coach at the time and is now the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.
It is worth noting though that Kansas City’s tight ends coach in 2009 was Bob Bicknell, who held the same role for the Patriots last year. Given that potential familiarity and the fact that the tight ends room was arguably the best positional room for the Patriots last year, the case could be made for Bicknell returning to the Patriots in his current role, outside of other offensive changes.
Vrabel’s Ohio State tenure (player, 1993-1996, positional coach 2011-2013)
Again there’s not a direct link to any immediate offensive coordinator candidate from Vrabel’s time at Ohio State as a player or a coach, but there are a few up-and-coming coaches who might make sense to target for the staff and develop.
When Vrabel played at Ohio State he was teammates for three years with running back Eddie George, and the two remain friends. George didn’t get right into coaching after retiring, but in 2021 he was named the head coach at FCS level Tennessee State. Under George the Tigers have progressed each year and this past season won their first conference championship since 1999. George was named Big South-OVC Coach of the Year.
George has been identified as a candidate for FBS jobs. Would he entertain a jump to the NFL?
As a coach, Vrabel was on staff in Columbus when J.T. Barrett arrived as a freshman quarterback. After a brief NFL career Barrett has gotten into coaching and has been the Detroit Lions’ assistant quarterbacks coach for the last two years. If the Patriots still want some of the Ben Johnson influence with a Vrabel hire, Barrett could be an attractive candidate as a quarterbacks coach with a potential future as an offensive coordinator.
How much did the defensive line coach interact with a true freshman on the other side of the ball? It’s possible the two aren’t super familiar, but the connection does feel worth noting.
Vrabel’s Texans tenure (positional coach, 2014-2016, defensive coordinator 2017)
While in Houston Vrabel worked for head coach Bill O’Brien, who he also briefly crossed paths with as a player in New England when O’Brien was on McDaniels’ staff. After O’Brien hired him 10 years ago, could Vrabel return the favor?
O’Brien obviously just left the Patriots a year ago. He said on Adam Schefter’s podcast this week that he’s happy in his current job as the head coach at Boston College, but didn’t rule out a return to the NFL if a team approached him. If he did return, his offense projects as a fit for Maye, but would represent a change from the current system.
If Vrabel can’t get O’Brien but wants influence from the program he was a part of in Houston, there are other options. George Godsey was O’Brien’s offensive coordinator for two years in Houston in 2015 and 2016. Godsey was also the offensive coordinator in Miami during Brian Flores’ final year in 2021. He’s since worked as the Ravens’ tight ends coach. His background also includes coaching tight ends, including being the Patriots’ tight ends coach in 2012 and 2013.
Sean Ryan coached receivers and then quarterbacks in Houston under O’Brien and with Vrabel, after a long stint in the New York Giants’ organization. He’s also been a quarterbacks coach in Detroit and Carolina, and after spending a year at the college level in 2023 spent this year as a defensive analyst in Miami (his first ever job on the defensive side of the ball in 26 years of coaching). Ryan has never called plays, but could be an option as a positional coach and veteran advisor to a younger offensive coordinator.
Getting back to the pipeline candidates, Wes Welker is certainly a coach to watch. Not only did Vrabel play with Welker in New England but they were both on O’Brien’s staff in Houston. Welker has since worked as a wide receivers coach for the 49ers under Kyle Shanahan and the Dolphins under Mike McDaniel. Hiring him as the wide receivers coach and making him passing game coordinator could be a good way to get him in the building and get him on an offensive coordinator track.
Vrabel’s Titans tenure (head coach, 2018-2023)
As we get more recent, the candidates get more relevant. Given that, there are multiple names from Vrabel’s Tennessee tenure to focus on.
We’ll start with Vrabel’s first offensive coordinator after LaFleur and Smith, which was Todd Downing. While Downing is in Vrabel’s coaching tree it wouldn’t be surprising if Vrabel looks elsewhere. The offense regressed significantly when Downing took over in 2022, and he was also arrested for a DUI while driving home from a game that season, and was fired at the end of the year.
Downing was replaced by Tim Kelly, who was on O’Brien’s staff with Vrabel in Houston and later became offensive coordinator there. He then followed Vrabel to Tennessee where he was the passing game coordinator and then offensive coordinator in Vrabel’s final year. Under Kelly the offense struggled between veteran Ryan Tannehill and rookie Will Levis at quarterback. Kelly spent this past year as the Giants’ tight ends coach.
Also following Vrabel from Houston to Tennessee was Pat O’Hara. O’Hara was a general offensive assistant with the Texans, and then became the quarterbacks coach with the Titans for five of Vrabel’s first six years before changing roles to ‘pass game analyst’ in 2023. O’Hara was out of football this year. Having never called plays he’s more of a candidate to be an experienced QB coach who can help a young offensive coordinator.
Vrabel also had run and pass game coordinators during his final year in Tennessee. The run game coordinator was Justin Outten (who was also the running backs coach), who he hired after Outten was the Denver Broncos’ offensive coordinator in 2022. The Titans kept Outten on after letting go of Vrabel, and he was the team’s tight ends coach this past season. Outten coached tight ends in Green Bay from 2019 to 2021.
The pass game coordinator was Charles London. London had spent almost a decade coaching running backs at the pro and college level before becoming the Falcons’ quarterbacks coach in 2021. He held that job for two years before joining Vrabel. This past season he was the Seahawks’ quarterbacks coach.
In terms of the offensive coordinator pipeline, Luke Steckel is a solid candidate. The 39-year-old began his NFL career as an assistant to the head coach in Cleveland from 2009-2012, then was hired by the Titans as a general offensive assistant. Vrabel kept him on staff when he arrived in Tennessee, through 2022. During that time he coached wide receivers (as an assistant positional coach) and tight ends.
In 2023 Steckel left for the Chicago Bears, where he was an assistant offensive line coach. Last year Steckel joined the Raiders and went back to coaching tight ends. In his tight ends room, rookie Brock Bowers went on to have a dominant rookie season.
Steckel still needs a bit more experience, in particular with play calling. Making him a tight ends coach and adding a pass game or run game coordinator tag under another OC could position him ideally to take over if/when Vrabel’s first offensive coordinator is hired away down the road.
Vrabel’s Browns tenure (consultant, 2024)
Vrabel’s offensive coordinator could also be somebody he connected with last year in Cleveland. The Browns’ offense is adjacent to the offense Vrabel’s teams ran in Tennessee, and wouldn’t be much of an adjustment – if an adjustment at all – to what Maye ran last year under Alex Van Pelt.
One name that has already come up quite a bit is Tommy Rees. In some ways Rees profiles similarly to Van Pelt, but with more play-calling experience. He played quarterback at Notre Dame, where he was a two-year starter. Unlike Van Pelt he didn’t play in the NFL (he was with Washington for a week in the spring of 2014), but got right into coaching.
Rees worked as a general assistant at Northwestern and then with the Chargers before returning to Notre Dame as a quarterbacks coach in 2017. Four years later he became the offensive coordinator (in addition to his QB coach job). Then in 2023 Alabama hired him to take over as OC and quarterbacks coach when Bill O’Brien left for the Patriots.
Last year Rees made the jump back to the NFL joining the Browns as a tight ends coach and pass game specialist. He spoke highly of Vrabel’s impact following the season.
While Rees has never called plays at the NFL level, he does have significant play-calling experience. He’s also spent significant time working with quarterbacks and played the position himself – making him a strong candidate to continue Maye’s development.
If Vrabel wants somebody with a similar profile but more experience he could turn to Ken Dorsey, who was the Browns’ offensive coordinator last year. However it’s worth noting he’s now been fired twice in two years as an OC, getting let go by the Bills during the 2023 season. The former NFL quarterback might be a better candidate as a quarterbacks coach and veteran advisor for somebody like Rees.
Another coach from Cleveland with seemingly upward trajectory is running backs coach Duce Staley. A 10-year NFL veteran, Staley has been a running backs coach and assistant head coach with the Eagles (2013-2020, became AHC in 2018), the Lions (2021-2022) under Den Campbell), and the Panthers (2023). Staley is another potential pipeline OC candidate, and has had offensive coordinator speculation around him in the past.
Another potential advisor-level staffer could be Chad O’Shea. O’Shea has been the wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator in Cleveland since 2020. He worked for the Patriots as a wide receivers coach from 2009-2018, before leaving for Miami to become offensive coordinator. His experience could be helpful to a young staff.
The same goes for Bill Musgrave, who has had multiple stints as an NFL offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and was a senior offensive assistant in Cleveland last year.
Indirect connections
There are also a handful of coaches who could make sense that didn’t work with Vrabel directly, but he has other connections with.
That includes Van Pelt, who was a four-year offensive coordinator in Cleveland before getting fired last year. He worked with many of the same coaches Vrabel did, including head coach Kevin Stefanski. If Vrabel likes the work Van Pelt did with Maye, his familiarity with the system from his own time in Cleveland could make retaining AVP an option. At the very least, Van Pelt should have a chance to interview for his own job, and Vrabel should speak with him about what worked and what didn’t with Maye’s rookie year development.
Vrabel could also go back to what worked for him in Tennessee, and hire an offensive coordinator named LaFleur. Not Matt, but his brother Mike LaFleur.
Mike is currently the offensive coordinator for the Rams, but doesn’t call plays. The Rams would need to give permission to the Patriots to speak with him with it being a lateral move by title, but if LaFleur wants a chance to call plays and expedite his own coaching path he could pressure Sean McVay to let him interview.
Keeping with the family ties, Vrabel played under Charlie Weis in both New England and Kansas City. Weis has been out of coaching for 10 years and isn’t a realistic candidate, but his son Charlie Weis Jr. may be. The younger Weis has spent the last three seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss. He also has some brief NFl experience as a general assistant with the Falcons in 2017. If Vrabel and the Patriots want to ‘modernize’ the offense, Weis and Kiffin are working with many of the concepts associated with modernization at the pro level.
That’s assuming Vrabel and the Patriots would be O.K. with a college play caller. If so, another name to know is Mike Denbrock. Denbrock worked under Luke Fickell – another former teammate and close friend of Vrabel – at Cincinnati as offensive coordinator for five years. Denbrock’s offenses have been great for quarterbacks in recent years, including in 2023 at LSU when Jayden Daniels won MVP. Denbrock is currently the OC at Notre Dame.
Non-connection candidates
Vrabel could also interview and hire a candidate he has no prior experience or crossover with. Other top offensive coordinator candidates in this cycle are Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach Josh McCown (who coached Maye in high school), Rams tight ends coach and pass game coordinator Nick Caley (who was a Patriots assistant from 2015-2022), Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (if not retained by the Saints’ new coaching staff), Ravens quarterbacks coach Tee Martin, and Lions pass game coordinator Tanner Engstrand.
