Multiple reports have now talked about that former New England Patriots participant and one-time Related Press Coach of the 12 months Award winner Mike Vrabel would have at the very least some curiosity in returning to New England if Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft and group 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 might be again for a second season” though 3-13 New England is a loss to the 13-3 Buffalo Payments away from possessing the No. 1 total decide 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 assume 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 group options “an offense with practice-squad talent on the offensive line and at huge receiver.”
With that mentioned, Mason thinks Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt might turn into “the autumn man” in order that “the Krafts can save face and say, ‘See, shedding is unacceptable!'” In a distinct article, Mason shared how veteran working again Antonio Gibson mentioned on Wednesday it “could be utterly fallacious” for the membership to throw Van Pelt “underneath the bus” subsequent week.
One would assume the Krafts would need to preserve Van Pelt by way of at the very least January 2026, contemplating rookie quarterback Drake Maye improved all through the autumn whereas working with the group’s present employees. Mason nonetheless appears satisfied the Patriots exhibiting Van Pelt the door is “likelier than Mayo getting fired,” however one wonders if the scenario might change if New England seems utterly checked out versus Buffalo at Gillette Stadium this Sunday.
