Mike Vrabel returning to New England to coach Patriots
Sun Jan 12 11:17am ET
Field Level Media
The New England Patriots hired franchise legend Mike Vrabel as their next head coach on Sunday morning.
ESPN reported that it was a multi-year contract for Vrabel, who won three Super Bowl titles as a linebacker with New England and was named to the club's Ring of Honor in 2023.
"He's back! Patriots Hall of Famer Mike Vrabel returns to New England as our 16th head coach," the team wrote on social media.
Vrabel, 49, was viewed as the leading candidate to replace Jerod Mayo, who was fired on Jan. 5 after the Patriots posted a 4-13 record during Mayo's lone season as the team's head coach.
Vrabel was a coaching and personnel consultant for the Cleveland Browns in the 2024 season, but his contract expired Dec. 30, allowing him to interview with other NFL teams.
New England's 23-16 win over Buffalo in last Sunday's season finale secured the No. 4 overall selection of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Patriots also interviewed Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and former Houston Texans OC Pep Hamilton for the head coaching vacancy.
After a 14-year NFL career with three teams, most notably the Patriots, Vrabel began his coaching career at his alma mater, Ohio State (2011-13). He then spent four seasons as a Houston Texans assistant coach before being hired as the Tennessee Titans head coach before the 2018 season.
Vrabel was 54-45 over six seasons with the Titans. He was the NFL Coach of the Year in 2021.
Vrabel made it clear in a recent interview with The Athletic what he was looking for in his next franchise. His familiarity with owner Robert Kraft and the chance to work with young quarterback Drake Maye could have steered him toward the Patriots, even as other teams interviewed him.
"There's got to be clear communication with ownership, so that we understand as coaches what the expectations are," Vrabel said. "That's so we can explain to them what's reasonable, what we can do, what we probably can do and what we're going to try to do -- or die trying. I want to have a structure in place that people see the game the same way I do from an X's and O's standpoint, from a personnel standpoint, with team-building. We would hopefully have that alignment, which is critical.
"And I would like to be able to say that there's a quarterback that you feel like you can win with -- or that there's a path to find the one that you can win with."
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The Paur Report
TFC Champion is Crowned
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday night's wild-card game against the Washington Commanders, but he is expected to play, according to sources. Otton missed the final three games of the regular season due to his knee injury, but he got in some limited practice sessions this week and should be active this weekend for the first playoff game. The 25-year-old had an impressive three-game stretch from Weeks 7-9 in which he caught 25 of 31 targets for 258 yards and three touchdowns. However, all that production came with top wideout Mike Evans missing time with a hamstring injury. In five games after that stretch, Otton had a combined 15 catches for 179 yards and no TDs after Evans returned. If Otton returns Sunday night, he'll merely be a touchdown-dependent, low-end TE1 against Washington.
From RotoBaller
Former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots officially agreed to a multi-year deal on Sunday for Vrabel to become the team's next head coach, according to sources. Vrabel becomes the seventh person to become the head coach for a franchise that he once helped win a Super Bowl as a player, joining Jerod Mayo, Bart Starr, Forrest Gregg, Art Shell, Jeff Saturday and Jason Garrett. Vrabel played linebacker in New England from 2001-08 and won three Super Bowl rings with the Pats. He also went 54-45 in the regular season and 2-3 in the playoffs, including a trip to the AFC Championship in 2019, as head coach of the Titans from 2018-23. Vrabel was the NFL Coach of the Year in 2021 and will replace Mayo, who was fired after going 4-13 in his lone season as the head coach. Vrabel's coaching career began in 2011 as a linebackers coach at Ohio State, his alma mater.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews didn't make much noise in the 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. The veteran registered two catches for 27 yards on three targets while receiving a 61% snap share. He saw 14 fewer snaps than Isaiah Likely, who was a bit more involved in the passing game this time around. Andrews played a big part in blocking again as the ground game went for a ridiculous 299 yards. Andrews will probably be needed more in the divisional round against either the Houston Texans or Buffalo Bills.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman came into Saturday's Wild Card game as the number-one receiver with Zay Flowers (knee) inactive and got in on the scoring action to help beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his third career postseason game, Bateman finished with two catches for 24 yards and a touchdown on two targets. His 15-yard touchdown started off all of the scoring in the first quarter when Lamar Jackson found him going over the middle in the end zone. That was also Bateman's first postseason touchdown in his four-year career. He'll look to find the end zone again in the divisional round against either the Buffalo Bills or Houston Texans.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill crossed the goal line in a 28-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round. The change-of-pace back caught a touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson as he improvised and escaped the pass rush at the end of the second quarter. Hill finished the game with six carries for 12 yards and four receptions for 13 yards and a touchdown on four targets. Derrick Henry was dominating the run game, so Hill didn't see as many opportunities with a 39% snap share. Hill will try to find the end zone again in the divisional round against either the Buffalo Bills or Houston Texans.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry almost ran for two football fields against the Pittsburgh Steelers on the way to a 28-14 win. The superstar back finished with 186 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries and didn't even participate in the passing game. Henry was able to break off big runs by simply outrunning the defense, and he flashed the devastating stiff arm when he slapped Minkah Fitzpatrick out of the picture. The Ravens' possible opponents in the next round are the Bills and Texans, who Henry has posted 199 and 147 yards against this season.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson put together an incredibly efficient performance to easily dismantle the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card matchup on Saturday. The three-time All-Pro finished with 175 yards and two touchdowns on 16-for-21 throwing while adding 81 yards on 15 carries. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry and 10.9 yards per completion, finishing with a 132.0 passer rating. Jackson said he's not cheering for anyone specifically to play in the next round, but depending on the Bills and Broncos game, they will either host the Texans or travel to Buffalo next.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Rams defense/special teams struggled at the start of the season, but they found a great rhythm down the stretch and carried the team into the playoffs. They'll have to contain the explosive Minnesota Vikings offense led by Sam Darnold on Monday Night Football of the Wild Card Round. Before multiple starters rested in Week 18, the Rams held three straight opponents under 10 points to defeat the 49ers, Jets, and Cardinals to secure a playoff spot. In those three games, the Rams forced five turnovers and had eight sacks. The unit was a top-eight DST in each of those three weeks. On the season, they ended up with 38 sacks and 20 takeaways. The Vikings gave up 49 sacks and had 21 turnovers in the regular season, but their big-play ability and the way they put up so many points makes the Rams DST a boom-or-bust flier play in their Wild Card matchup.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston did nothing right in a Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans. Johnston was targeted five times and made no catches, the second game this season where he saw that many targets but still couldn't do anything with them. The play that encapsulated the NFL career of "QJ" so far was a fourth down route where he did not even get himself into first down territory, and then also just dropped the pass for good measure. Johnston showed some flashes this year of what made him a first-round pick in 2023, but he also showed some of what has Chargers fans hoping he's cut before next season begins.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker made two field goals in a disappointing Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans. Dicker attempted two field goals and made them both, one from 35 yards and the other from 39 yards out. His one attempt at an extra point was blocked, scooped, and returned for a two-point conversion. Dicker ended up as the third-highest ranked fantasy kicker this season, and he should be right around that same level next season.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey was the lone bright spot of the Chargers Wild Card Round loss to the Houston Texans on Saturday. McConkey was targeted 14 times, making nine catches for 197 yards and a touchdown. The rookie's touchdown was an 86-yard play and the only one the Bolts would score in the game. While McConkey made his nine catches for 197 yards, the entire rest of the Chargers offense made five catches for 45 yards total. It was a rough performance by the LA offense, but McConkey shone through and truly established himself as an every week fantasy starter in his rookie year.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Will Dissly struggled his way through a rough loss in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs against the Houston Texans. Dissly was targeted five times, making two catches for 16 yards total. He dropped a pass while completely wide open and also was unable to catch a rather easy pass that he batted and turned into an interception instead. Dissly came on as a solid and reliable high-floor fantasy tight end in the second half of the season, but he was almost solely responsible for a 14-point swing in the most important game of the season for the Chargers. Dissly signed a three-year deal before the season, so he should be expected back with the Bolts, but they'll likely look for a more traditional pass-catching tight end either in free agency or in the draft.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers running back Gus Edwards ran the ball seven times in a Wild Card Round loss to the Houston Texans. Edwards was not targeted in the passing game and turned his seven rushes into 22 yards. He looked out of gas most of the season, but was still solid enough as a backup to J.K. Dobbins when both backs were healthy. Edwards signed a two-year deal before the season, so he should be back with the Bolts next season along with rookie Kimani Vidal.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had the worst game of his career at a very inopportune time, losing 32-12 to the Texans in the first round of the playoffs. Herbert attempted 32 passes, completing just 14 for 242 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions. He was also sacked four times, losing 31 yards. Herbert threw three interceptions all season. In 17 regular season games, he threw three interceptions. In one playoff game, he threw four. Herbert got no help from anyone besides Ladd McConkey, but it was still a rough performance from Herbert, who is still looking for his first playoff win.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins struggled in the Wild Card Round loss to the Houston Texans, along with almost everyone else in a Chargers uniform. Dobbins ran the ball nine times, gaining 26 yards. He was targeted once in the passing game but was unable to come up with the catch. Dobbins was excellent when healthy in his first year as a Charger, but this was a rough game to end the season on. The Texans were in the backfield on almost every play, pressuring quarterback Justin Herbert or stopping the Los Angeles run game. Dobbins was playing on a one-year contract with the Bolts, but he showed more than enough to earn himself another starting job next season if he doesn't stick with the Chargers.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey had nine catches for 197 yards and a touchdown in a playoff loss to Houston. Dynasty Analysis: McConkey had 14 targets on the day, nine more than any other player on the Chargers. While Los Angeles will clearly add more talent at the position, McConkey has done nothing but impress this season and today's line just shows how good he's been. While not quite in the upper tier of pass catchers, McConkey is very well going to flirt with WR1 value next season unless the Chargers make a multitude of moves in the off-season. He's a strong hold after an impressive rookie season.
Dynasty | Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert completed just 14-of-32 passes for 242 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions in a playoff loss to Houston. Dynasty Analysis: This one came out of nowhere as Herbert had thrown just three interceptions all season. If it wasn't for one long pass play for Ladd McConkey, it would have even been worse as well. The Chargers couldn't get anything going on the ground and Herbert was both inaccurate and unlucky in this one. In the end, this game really won't affect his dynasty value much, but it also won't be an indicator he's valued too lowly in dynasty leagues this off-season, either.
Dynasty | Texans running back Joe Mixon had 106 rushing yards and one touchdown in a playoff win over the Chargers. Dynasty Analysis: After recording at least 100 rushing yards in six of his first eight games this season, he had only found the century mark one other time all year. This was a welcome sight for dynasty managers as he looked like a running back with a lot of gas left in the tank. We'll see how he does moving forward in the playoffs, but vintage Mixon is certainly a solid hold in dynasty leagues.
Indianapolis Colts LB Zaire Franklin led the NFL with 173 total tackles this season, and his 93 solo stops were tied for the third most. Franklin also finished tied for second in the league with five forced fumbles.
From TheHuddle
Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn was perfect in his team's 32-12 Wild Card victory against the Los Angeles Chargers, converting all three of his field goal attempts and all three extra points to help Houston advance. The longtime Texans kicker made easy work of a range of short and midrange field goals, making kicks from 41, 37, and 30 yards as Houston held the lead for the entire second half. The 30-year-old will have at least one more game as the Texans' win secured a place in the Divisional Round next week.
From RotoBaller
