Patriots quietly begin offensive coordinator interviews for Mike Vrabel’s staff
The New England Patriots interviewed a candidate to become their next offensive coordinator earlier this week, and now it’s reported who drew the Pats’ interest.
According to Ian Rapoport, the Patriots have interviewed Bears interim head coach and offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, for what Rapoport described as a “vacant” OC position in New England. The interview reportedly took place on Tuesday, the day after the team officially introduced Mike Vrabel as its new head coach.
Brown took over as the Bears’ interim head coach after the team fired Matt Eberflus from his post in Week 14. The Bears went 1-4 in five games with Brown at the helm, averaging only 13.8 points per game in that stretch. Prior to that, Brown started 2024 as the Bears’ passing game coordinator, then took over as offensive coordinator after the team fired Shane Waldron.
An NFL coach since 2020, Brown got his start as the Los Angeles Rams’ running backs coach under Sean McVay. He was elevated to assistant head coach and running backs coach in 2021, then assistant head coach and tight ends coach in 2022. He got his first offensive coordinator gig with the Carolina Panthers in 2023.

Alex Van Pelt, who served as Patriots offensive coordinator in the 2024 season, was not among the names reported to be moving on from New England’s offensive coaching staff. That leaves the door open for Van Pelt to stay on with the Pats in some capacity, especially if he couldn’t get another OC job elsewhere in the league.
Keeping Van Pelt around would be good for the sake of continuity with quarterback Drake Maye, who in his rookie year worked closely with him and quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney. Van Pelt and McCartney ostensibly remain with the Patriots as of this writing, as Vrabel conducts the search for his 2025 staff.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Pats have also requested to interview Chargers pass game coordinator Marcus Brady for their offensive coordinator vacancy. Brady has been coaching in the NFL since 2018, including two seasons as the Colts’ offensive coordinator from 2021-22.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.