It’s been two days because the Patriots’ 2023 season concluded, and there have been no concrete updates about Bill Belichick’s future as head coach.
Belichick reportedly met with proprietor Robert Kraft on Monday. The head coach stated Monday morning that he may wind up having a “series of meetings” with Kraft.
Belichick additionally stated Monday morning that he’s “heavily invested” within the Patriots’ group. He additionally alluded to a willingness to relinquish personnel duties.
“Yeah, look, I’m for whatever, collectively, we decide as an organization is the best thing to help our football team,” Belichick stated. “And, I have multiple roles in that, and I rely on a lot of people to help me in those responsibilities. If somebody’s got to have the final say, I rely on a lot of other people to help. And, however that process is, I’m only part of it.”
Internally, the Patriots are conducting enterprise as normal, in line with sources. There’s nonetheless work to be finished no matter who’s in cost.
One factor that would probably change Kraft and the staff’s plans is the supply of former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel, who was fired as Titans head coach on Tuesday.
Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz reported Tuesday that there could be “mutual interest” between Vrabel and the Patriots if Belichick is out as head coach.
There had been rumors of a cut up between the Titans and Vrabel, however given his standing amongst high NFL head coaches, it appeared probably that he could be traded somewhat than fired. Titans proprietor Amy Adams Strunk stated Tuesday on 104.5 The Zone that the staff thought of buying and selling Vrabel however the course of was going to take too lengthy.
Vrabel, who performed for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008, serving to to carry three Super Bowl Championships to New England, was 54-45 because the Titans’ head coach. He led the Titans to the playoffs in 2019, 2020 and 2021, together with an AFC Championship Game look in 2019. He was simply 13-21 in his final two seasons with the Titans earlier than being let go.
Vrabel, who was a one-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl choice with the Patriots and made the staff’s All-2000s, fiftieth Anniversary and All-Dynasty Teams, was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 2023.
Vrabel was honored at halftime of the Patriots’ Week 7 win over the Bills as a part of his induction ceremony. When he stepped as much as the rostrum at halftime, whereas nonetheless the Titans’ head coach, he referred to the Patriots as “we.”
“Come on, we’ve got a game to win. I can’t be up here that long,” he stated to the followers.
“I haven’t been back as much as I should since 2009, but I want to thank the fans who made playing in this stadium unbelievably special,” Vrabel continued. “When we traveled, you were there. When we were here, you were there. I can imagine how you screamed and yelled during night games on third down, then you threw the snow… I don’t want you to take this organization for granted. I’ve been a lot of places, this is a special place with great leadership, great fans, great direction, and great coaching. Enjoy it, it’s not like this everywhere.”
Vrabel watched the sport from Robert and Jonathan Kraft’s suite.
Belichick raved about Vrabel’s time with the Patriots as a participant earlier than his Hall of Fame induction.
“Mike was a very cerebral player, smart player, played inside linebacker for us when we needed him — which wasn’t often, but he could do it. He was the kind of guy that at practice would take reps at every position, free safety, strong safety, occasionally defensive line,” Belichick stated in October. “If there was a certain player we were trying to replicate, he would jump in there and do that. It was competitive, especially with him and [Tom] Brady, quite entertaining at times, to be honest with you. Mike had a great personality, great love for the game, passionate, high energy, very strong.”
He closed out a solution by saying it was “no surprise that he went into coaching, no surprise he’s been successful. Good, smart football player and coach, good fundamentals.”
If the Patriots do transfer on from Belichick, present linebackers coach Jerod Mayo can also be seen as a high candidate to be his successor. Potential basic supervisor candidates embrace present executives like Eliot Wolf and former Patriots front-office execs who’ve moved on like Dave Ziegler and Jon Robinson, who labored with Vrabel in Tennessee.
The Patriots may interview Vrabel at any level now that he’s been fired.
They can’t interview workers of different golf equipment that didn’t make the postseason till the third day following the employer membership’s Week 18 recreation. They may interview a coach of a staff on a playoff bye just about three days after Week 18 video games and earlier than the Wild Card video games. They may interview the coach of a staff taking part within the Wild Card video games just about starting three days after its Wild Card recreation and previous to the divisional spherical. The Patriots can maintain in-person interviews with coaches whose groups’ seasons have concluded beginning Jan. 22.
Teams searching for a head coach should conduct in-person interviews with at the least two exterior candidates who’re individuals or colour and/or girls to fulfill the Rooney Rule.
Source: www.bostonherald.com