Tag: Mike Vrabel

Former Panthers coach to be hired by Patriots

Former Panthers OC Thomas Brown is joining his third team in as many years.

Former Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown will be wearing yet another hat in 2025.

According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the New England Patriots will be hiring the 38-year-old as their tight ends coach/passing game coordinator. The Patriots, who hired Mike Vrabel as their new head coach earlier this month, will be the third stop in as many years for Brown.

Brown’s first prominent NFL gig came with the Panthers in 2023, when he was brought on as the offensive coordinator under then-head coach Frank Reich. Carolina parted ways with Brown following the campaign, one in which Reich (and a few other members of his offensive staff) lasted just 11 games.

He would then move on to the Chicago Bears for the 2024 season, beginning as their passing game coordinator. He’d later be promoted to interim offensive coordinator after the firing of Shane Waldron, and then to interim head coach after the firing of Matt Eberflus.

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Legendary defender believes Patriots got it right with Mike Vrabel

Tedy Bruschi believes the Patriots got the right head coach

Former New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi gave a strong endorsement for Mike Vrabel being named the Patriots’ new head coach.

Bruschi and Vrabel were teammates from 2001-2008 and won three Super Bowls in that timeframe. The duo formed a sturdy linebacker group for the organization and helped set the tone for the defensive success in the 2000s.

“He’s the right man for the job … it’s been bad for the last two years with the New England Patriots organization,” Bruschi said on ESPN NFL Countdown, via Mike Reiss. “When they hired Jerod [Mayo], at the press conference, a big word that was used was ‘collaboration.’ Everybody’s input and all that stuff; well, I don’t know how much it is that any more. And I think that’s a good thing.

“Because Vrabel isn’t going to joke around, Vrabel is going to tighten the screws. In my opinion, there are some people in the front office that need to be told, ‘You don’t know what you’re doing and you need to take a step back.'”

Vrabel will reportedly be “the man” making the personnel decisions in New England, along with serving as the head coach. There’s hope that his arrival will be a much-needed wake-up call for a Patriots team coming off three straight losing seasons.

The first order of business is revamping the coaching staff before shifting the focus to the player roster.

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Patriots safety Kyle Dugger details first interaction with Mike Vrabel

Kyle Dugger describes his first conversation with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel

New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger detailed the first conversation he had with coach Mike Vrabel in a recent interview with Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan.

Dugger is expected to play a key role on defense in 2025 after signing a four-year, $58 million contract extension last year. So it’s no surprise he’d be looking to get acquainted with his new head coach.

“(Vrabel) was really positive,” Dugger said. “From the small talk we had and his energy, he seems like a genuine dude that wants to come in, win and put us in the best position to do so, which is all I can hope for as a player. So I’m excited to move forward.”

Dugger is looking to bounce back after a tough season with the Patriots. He battled through injuries that slowed his production. All told, he recorded 81 tackles and a sack on the season.

Things picked up for him as he got healthier down the stretch. He posted a 10-tackle game against the Arizona Cardinals coming off a late bye week.

Dugger has been viewed as a valuable player for the Patriots ever since he began his career with the organization. That isn’t likely to change under Vrabel and defensive coordinator Terrell Williams if he stays healthy.

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Patriots newly-hired assistant viewed as Mike Vrabel’s right-hand man

Mike Vrabel has his “right-hand man”

The New England Patriots formalized the hiring of John Streicher, who NFL insider Albert Breer described as Mike Vrabel’s “right-hand man.”

Streicher spent six seasons with the Tennessee Titans under Vrabel in a multitude of roles, including assistant, football development and director of football administration.

After Vrabel was fired by the Titans, Streicher joined the Los Angeles Rams as a game management assistant in 2024. Not only was he a huge help to Vrabel, but he also boosted the Rams’ effectiveness in situational football. Rams coach Sean McVay even went as far as saying the news that Streicher was leaving “broke his heart.”

Streicher is being viewed as Vrabel’s Ernie Adams in New England. Adams served as Bill Belichick’s right-hand man from 2000-2020. It’s a significant role for an assistant who seems to find success everywhere he goes.

Vrabel will need all of the help he can get in a full-on effort to turn the 4-13 Patriots around as quickly as possible.

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Report: Patriots hiring Titans defensive assistant Clinton McMillan

The Tennessee Titans will have some changes on their coaching staff in 2025 as defensive assistant Clinton McMillan is leaving for New England.

Everyone thought there could be some type of impact on the Tennessee Titans after their former head coach Mike Vrabel was hired to be the next coach of the New England Patriots. 

As many expected, Vrabel is building his staff with former Tennessee coaches in New England. While many of his first hires have already left the Titans’ organization, that trend appears to be changing. 


According to a source, Titans defensive assistant Clinton McMillan will be leaving Tennessee to join Vrabel in New England. Hired in 2021 as a defensive assistant, McMillan has focused on working with defensive linemen and was their pass rush specialist in 2024.

McMillan was brought to the Titans after numerous stints in the college ranks since entering coaching at Weber State in 2012. He was retained by head coach Brian Callahan after Vrabel was let go in January 2024. 

Callahan and the Titans are also letting tight ends coach Justin Outten depart the organization after his contract expired at the end of the 2024 season. 

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Mike Vrabel poaches longtime Browns assistant coach Ashton Grant

Longtime Cleveland Browns offensive assistant coach Ashton Grant joins the New England Patriots as their quarterback coach.

The Cleveland Browns lost another coach today to Mike Vrabel. Cleveland Browns assistant quarterback coach Ashton Grant is joining the New England Patriots as their quarterback coach. 

Grant joined the Browns with initial staff brought in by Kevin Stefanski. Grant climbed the coaching ladder in Cleveland. He started as an offensive assistant, was promoted to offensive quality control coach in 2022, and became the assistant quarterback coach in 2023.

The Browns haven’t employed a quarterback coach under Stefanski. The team had their offensive coordinators serve in the role. Grant helped quarterbacks command the offense.

The Browns quarterbacks had a lot of success with Grant in the quarterback room. Grant helped quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Joe Flacco have parts of a successful season. This year, Grant saw a lot of turnover in the room. The Browns brought in Jameis Winston and Bailey Zappe to play. The team didn’t have the same success as last year.

Grant should be a good coach for the Patriots’ franchise quarterback Drake Maye. The Browns will get a close look at Vrabel and the Patriots as the teams are scheduled to play next year. 

The Browns haven’t taken long to look for Grant’s replacement. The Browns interviewed a former assistant of Stefanski for the quarterback coach role.

Sean McVay confirms key assistant is leaving Rams to join Patriots coaching staff

John Streicher is leaving the Rams after one season as Sean McVay’s game management assistant

Sean McVay is a brilliant coach but he saw room for improvement in the game management department last year. He hired John Streicher to be his game management assistant, helping with things like timeout usage and challenges, but the man they call “Stretch” won’t be returning for a second season.

Sean McVay confirmed to reporters on Thursday that Streicher is leaving the Rams after just one season. He’s headed to New England, joining the Patriots’ staff under new head coach Mike Vrabel. Streicher previously spent time with the Titans when Vrabel was the head coach there, so it’s hardly surprising to see them reuniting in New England.

The move was previously reported by Mike Reiss of ESPN and is now confirmed by McVay himself. Streicher’s departure apparently broke McVay’s heart, which shows how important he was in 2024.

It’s unclear if McVay will try to find someone to fill Streicher’s position for the 2025 season but given his improvements in timeout usage and overall game management, it would serve the Rams well to have someone in that role once again.

Pats hire Josh McDaniels as OC, leaving Udinski available for Seahawks

Pats hire Josh McDaniels as OC, leaving Udinski available for Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are still seeking for their next offensive coordinator and it appears some potential competition for one of their final candidates has vanished. It was reported on Tuesday that the New England Patriots were interviewing Minnesota Vikings assistant offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski, who had two interviews already with the Seahawks.

Well, Seattle can cross New England off its concern list, at least when it comes to Udinski, because the Pats have found their new guy… er, should I say, their old one. New England head coach Mike Vrabel has brought a familiar face back to Foxboro in the form of Josh McDaniels, who will begin his third stint as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator.

With New England going down a familiar path with McDaniels, this leaves Udinski open as an option should the Seahawks believe he is their guy. Udinski is seen as a rising star. Hiring him would signal Mike Macdonald and Seattle want potential and to keep the youth movement on their coaching staff alive and well.

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Video captures Mike Vrabel’s first day as Patriots head coach

A closer look at Mike Vrabel’s first day on the job as Patriots head coach

The New England Patriots’ social media account put out a video of Mike Vrabel’s first day on the job as head coach.

Vrabel was officially announced as the Patriots organization’s 16th head coach on January 13. The Patriots legend is already beginning to get to work, as he has interviewed several individuals for various coaching roles. He will reportedly be making the personnel decisions for the team both on and off the field.

“I think that’s a culmination of a lot of hard work, some sacrifice from other people,” Vrabel answered, when asked what it means to be the Patriots’ head coach. “It makes me feel grateful to be in this position but understand there’s a lot of people that helped me get there.”

Vrabel has a long road ahead of him in turning around a team that has finished 4-13 in the last two seasons. However, his willingness to start laying the groundwork right out of the gates is proof that he means business.

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Ex-Dolphins LB says Tyreek Hill needs a coach that doesn’t ‘coddle’

Does Tyreek Hill need to play for a coach who keeps a tighter leash?

It’s possible Tyreek Hill has worn out his welcome in South Beach.

After three seasons with the Miami Dolphins, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the 30-year-old is on the trading block after quitting on his squad in Week 18. But former Dolphins linebacker Rob Ninkovich thinks head coach Mike McDaniel is part of the problem.

In an interview with Betway, Ninkovich — who is best remembered for his eight years with the New England Patriots — said that Hill would be better off playing for a coach who keeps a tighter leash on his players.

“I think Tyreek Hill .. might be a guy that needs a head coach like [Patriots head coach] Mike Vrabel,” Ninkovich said. “Somebody that’s going to stay on top of him, that’s going to say, ‘I don’t care what you’ve done in the past, you’re going to go out and perform, and you’re going to be on time, and we’re not going to coddle you.’

“I think down in Miami, maybe there was some of that coddling where he wasn’t on time. I think if you’re going to trade for Tyreek Hill, you have to make sure you have a coach that can stay on top of him and make sure that he’s doing all the right things.”

After an 8-9 finish to the 2024 season, McDaniel told reporters that discipline was an issue for the Dolphins and fining players “didn’t move the needle.” While he didn’t name names, tardiness to team meetings was reportedly a prevailing issue.

Ninkovich, 40, spent two seasons with the Dolphins early in his career before eventually blossoming under the strict leadership of the Patriots’ Bill Belichick.

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