Patriots Rumors: ‘Wide-Ranging Search’ To Include These Coaching Candidates

The New England Patriots didn’t conduct an extensive coaching search last season, tabbing Jerod Mayo as Bill Belichick’s successor.

It looks like things will be much different this time around.

The Patriots, fresh off a 4-13 season after beating the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, are on the hunt for their third coach in as many season after they fired Jerod Mayo. They reportedly want to interview Mike Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls with the franchise during his playing days and is in the Patriots Hall of Fame, but he isn’t the only coach on their list of targets.

“While I expect New England to conduct a wide-ranging search, you’ve got to think former Tennessee Titans coach and Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel will at least be involved,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote. “It makes too much sense, given his ties there. And that has been the expectation among some inside the league in recent days, that, should the job open, he will be interested. But Vrabel will have other options, too. Another contender might be Vikings defensive coordinator and former Patriots assistant Brian Flores, who has reset his career in Minnesota with two successful years.”

Fowler also noted the Patriots could take a look at Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who has several ties to the New England area.

Vrabel is viewed as the “front-runner” for New England’s vacant head coaching position and NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported the Patriots feel there’s a “realistic possibility” of making that happen. Patriots great Rob Gronkowski even dropped a nugget of an offensive coordinator who might be attached to Vrabel, if he lands with New England.

The Patriots will have to satisfy the Rooney Rule with their coaching search in which they will need to interview at least two external minority candidates.