FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 10: New England Patriots President Jonathan Kraft watches as New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft speaks as former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady looks on during a ceremony honoring Brady at halftime of New England’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium on September 10, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Tom Brady could impact the Patriots’ coaching search following the departure of Bill Belichick.
The AFC East outfit announced its decision to mutually part ways with the NFL’s longest-tenured coach on Thursday. They will now set about finding a replacement.
Mike Vrabel is available after receiving his marching orders from the Titans this week and is thought to be an option for the Pats, especially as he helped them win three Super Bowls as a player and has a great relationship with the team.
Vrabel also shares a friendship with Brady, and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reckons it could waylay any plans New England has to bring him in as a replacement for Belichick.
Brady is expected to become a minority owner with the Raiders and could convince Mark Davis to make a big push to hire Vrabel, which would make things difficult for the Pats.
“Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer made the compelling case for Vrabel to the Raiders during an appearance Thursday morning on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher and Hardy” program,” NESN reports. “Breer was on to discuss the Belichick news, and when talking about the possibility of Vrabel, he mentioned the presence of one Tom Brady in Las Vegas could tip the scales in the Raiders’ favor.”
Still, there’s nothing to suggest that the Raiders have Vrabel down as a priority. It’s believed that Jim Harbaugh is their main target, while they are also open to keeping Antonio Pierce.
As for the Patriots, Jerod Mayo, their linebackers coach, is the reported favorite to step in on the back of Belichick’s exit.
