New England Patriots appoint former player Mike Vrabel as their new head coach

• 49-year-old found success as head coach of Titans
• Vrabel replaces Jerod Mayo, who was fired last week

The New England Patriots have hired their former player Mike Vrabel as the team's next head coach. The news comes a week after Patriots owner Robert Kraft fired another former Patriots player, Jerod Mayo, after the team finished 4-13 in his lone season as coach.

Vrabel, a fan favorite during eight seasons as a player in New England where he was a member of the franchise's first three Super Bowl titles and an inductee into the team's Hall of Fame in 2023, was the preferred candidate because of his long association with the Pats and coaching success during six seasons in Tennessee.