It’s been a few days since the Patriots’ 2023 season concluded, and there have been no concrete updates about Bill Belichick’s future as head coach.
Belichick reportedly met with owner Robert Kraft on Monday. The head coach said Monday morning that he could wind up having a “series of meetings” with Kraft.
Belichick also said Monday morning that he’s “heavily invested” in the Patriots’ organization. He also 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 said. “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 business as usual, according to sources. There’s still work to be done regardless of who’s in charge.
One thing that could potentially change Kraft and the team’s plans is the availability of former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel, who was fired as Titans head coach on Tuesday.
Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz reported Tuesday there would be “mutual interest” between Vrabel and the Patriots if Belichick is out as head coach.
There had been rumors of a split between the Titans and Vrabel, but given his standing among top NFL head coaches, it seemed likely that he would be traded rather than fired. Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said Tuesday on 104.5 The Zone that the team considered trading Vrabel but the process was going to take too long.
Vrabel, who played for the Patriots from 2001-08, helping to bring three Super Bowl championships to New England, was 54-45 as the Titans’ head coach. He led the Titans to the playoffs in 2019, 2020 and 2021, including an AFC Championship Game appearance in 2019. He was just 13-21 in his last two seasons with the Titans before being let go.
Vrabel, who was a one-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection with the Patriots and made the team’s All-2000s, 50th 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 part of his induction ceremony. When he stepped up to the podium at halftime, while still 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 said to the fans.
“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 game from Robert and Jonathan Kraft’s suite.
Belichick raved about Vrabel’s time with the Patriots as a player before 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 said 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.”
