The New England Patriots are closing in on their next head coach.
Former linebacker Mike Vrabel is deep in negotiations to return to the franchise with which he won three Super Bowls, Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz and the Boston Globe's Nicole Yang reported on Saturday.
The 49-year-old played 125 games as a Patriot, earning a Pro Bowl and All-Pro nod in 2008.
Vrabel's coaching resume includes one year as the Houston Texans defensive co-ordinator in 2017 before spending six years as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
Vrabel led the Titans to three straight playoff appearances from 2017-2020, earning Coach of the Year honours in 2021 following a career-best 12-5 record. The furthest the Titans got in the post-season under Vrabel was an AFC championship game in 2019. He held a 5-2 playoff record as Tennessee’s head coach.
Vrabel was let go following the 2023 season, during which Tennessee went 6-11, its lowest win total since 2016.
The Patriots opening came about when they fired Jerod Mayo, another former New England linebacker, after a 4-13 season in his first year.
Vrabel has also interviewed with the New York Jets and Chicago Bears.
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