Revealed: New Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel’s warning to Tom Brady ahead of New England homecoming
Newly appointed New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has reportedly sent a warning to Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady amid the NFL’s coaching carousel.
Vrabel reached an agreement with the Patriots on Sunday to fill their head coaching vacancy after owner Robert Kraft fired Jerod Mayo at the end of the regular season after just one year in charge.
Vrabel was one of the NFL’s most coveted figures heading into 2025, with the Jets and Raiders among the teams linked to the 49-year-old.
Las Vegas in particular was rumored to be a landing spot for Vrabel, while former teammate Brady was involved in the Raiders’ hunt for a new head coach.
However, it appears Vrabel told Brady, Mark Davis and co. to not even bother interviewing him.
“Mike Vrabel’s most heavily rumored landing for months was with the Las Vegas Raiders, as they now have his longtime friend and teammate Tom Brady there as a minority owner and are essentially conducting their current head coaching search,” insider Tom Pelissero said on the NFL Network .
Tom Brady (right) received a message from New Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel (left)
Vrabel spent eight seasons playing for the Patriots as a teammate to the quarterback
“My understanding is that the Raiders never asked for an interview or tried to get Mike Vrabel involved because Vrabel essentially told Tom Brady, ‘Eventually I’m going back to New England.’
As first reported by ESPN, the Patriots and Vrabel have now agreed to a multi-year deal that will see the former linebacker take the reins in New England.
Vrabel spent eight seasons as a player with the Patriots, winning three Super Bowl crowns as part of the dynasty led by Bill Belichick and Brady.
In 2023, he was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame and now he returns to New England with the task of building another Super Bowl-winning team.
Vrabel also spent time with the Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs before turning his focus to coaching.
The 49-year-old, an Ohio native, worked at Ohio State as a linebackers and defensive line coach before joining the Texans as a linebackers coach and defensive coordinator.
His first opportunity to become a head coach came in 2018 when he was hired by the Tennessee Titans.
Vrabel led the Titans for six seasons until he was fired in January 2024. His most recent role was as a consultant to the Cleveland Browns.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft was looking for a new coach after firing Jerod Mayo
Meanwhile, the Raiders’ search for a new head coach continues following the firing of Antonio Pierce on Tuesday following the embattled franchise’s 4-13 finish to the season.
The Raiders have already interviewed Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. They have interviews scheduled next week with former Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and ex-New York Jets coach Robert Saleh.
And Brady, who is part of the interview process, is said to consider Johnson his favorite for the role.
Brady is personally involved in recruiting the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator and the seven-time Super Bowl winner is “in love” with him, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
Brady, a minority owner of the Raiders, also spent time with Johnson’s agent, Rapoport said.
Johnson has interest from several teams in the NFL. On Saturday, he interviewed the Chicago Bears about their vacant head coaching position.