Multiple reports have now talked about that former New England Patriots participant and one-time Related Press Coach of the Yr Award winner Mike Vrabel would have a minimum of some curiosity in returning to New England if Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft and workforce president Jonathan Kraft hearth first-year head coach Jerod Mayo as quickly as Sunday night time.
Nevertheless, Patriots beat writer Chris Mason of MassLive defined in a mailbag revealed on Thursday why he believes “Mayo can be again for a second season” regardless that 3-13 New England is a loss to the 13-3 Buffalo Payments away from possessing the No. 1 total choose of the 2025 NFL Draft.
“Regardless of the calamitous on-field product, Mayo was Robert Kraft’s hand-picked successor to Invoice Belichick,” Mason famous. “Name it stubbornness, pleasure, or no matter else you need, however I don’t suppose Kraft will make Mayo a one-and-done coach after writing a succession clause into his contract and punting on a training search totally within the final cycle. He actually, actually likes him.”
Mayo played for the Patriots from 2008 by way of 2015 and later joined Invoice Belichick’s employees as an inside linebackers coach in 2019. Whereas many outsiders assume Vrabel’s resume reveals he’d be an improve at head coach for New England, Mason identified the workforce options “an offense with practice-squad talent on the offensive line and at broad receiver.”
With that mentioned, Mason thinks Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt might change into “the autumn man” in order that “the Krafts can save face and say, ‘See, dropping is unacceptable!'” In a distinct article, Mason shared how veteran working again Antonio Gibson mentioned on Wednesday it “could be fully improper” for the membership to throw Van Pelt “beneath the bus” subsequent week.
One would suppose the Krafts would wish to maintain Van Pelt by way of a minimum of January 2026, contemplating rookie quarterback Drake Maye improved all through the autumn whereas working with the workforce’s present employees. Mason nonetheless appears satisfied the Patriots displaying Van Pelt the door is “likelier than Mayo getting fired,” however one wonders if the scenario might change if New England appears fully checked out versus Buffalo at Gillette Stadium this Sunday.
