Mike Vrabel's Plans for the Patriots' Coaching Staff

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is wasting no time in building his coaching staff. In his first week on the job, Vrabel has begun meeting with members of the team's 2024 coaching staff and identifying coaches from other teams to interview.

Vrabel said at his introductory news conference that building a staff with those who reflect his vision -- to teach, develop and inspire by making a connection -- is one of his top priorities. "As with any staff, there's going to be turnover," Vrabel said. "There's going to be new coaches, new faces -- some that I will have history [with], some that I won't. That's what the interview process is."

Vrabel isn't putting a timeline on forming a staff, in part because some of the coaches he plans to talk to are still involved in the playoffs and potentially could be involved in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9.

One such example is Detroit Lions defensive line coach/run-game coordinator Terrell Williams, who was one of Vrabel's most trusted assistants in his six-year tenure as Tennessee Titans head coach. Vrabel thought so highly of Williams that he added assistant head coach to his responsibilities in his final season.

Some around the NFL believe Williams, 50, would be Vrabel's ideal pick as defensive coordinator. And if that doesn't happen, Vrabel could look to others who coached alongside Williams in Tennessee, such as Philadelphia Eagles inside linebackers coach Bobby King, Miami Dolphins outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow and Titans passing-game coordinator/cornerbacks coach Chris Harris.

Those are easier-to-identify links to Vrabel in arguably his greatest area of expertise -- defense -- and names that have been more frequently mentioned in conversations with NFL coaching, front office and agent sources. On special teams, momentum seemed to be building for Vrabel to retain coordinator Jeremy Springer and top assistant Tom Quinn, with Quinn having coached on Vrabel's staff in Tennessee.

There has been less certainty in those circles on what Vrabel might be thinking for offensive coordinator, which is naturally one of the most important decisions he'll make. That is due, in part, to the presence of promising quarterback Drake Maye.

Vrabel said on sports radio WEEI that he has a "long list" and confirmed it includes former Las Vegas Raiders head coach and Patriots coordinator Josh McDaniels, who still lives in the region and last worked with the Patriots in 2021 when he worked wonders with then-rookie Mac Jones.

Vrabel has the highest regard for Arthur Smith, his former Titans OC and current Pittsburgh Steelers OC. Smith, a former head coach for the Atlanta Falcons, is a head coaching candidate with the New York Jets and Chicago Bears -- presumably taking him off the board. Former Titans coaches Tim Kelly (New York Giants TEs coach) and Tony Dews (Jets RBs coach) are among others who have ties to Vrabel and could be on his radar in some form (Kelly was Titans OC in Vrabel's final season).

When Vrabel was initially hired as Titans coach in 2018, then-Ohio State co-offensive coordinator Ryan Day was among those he pursued as his OC. Day's mentor, Chip Kelly, currently serves as Ohio State's OC and would be an outside-the-box possibility for Vrabel to consider. Kelly's offense will be on display Monday in the College Football Playoff National Championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Vrabel ultimately hired then-Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, who had a one-year stop before becoming Packers head coach (with Smith succeeding him in 2019). Vrabel could also consider a similar approach in 2025, with Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur or even Rams QBs coach Dave Ragone.

The team interviewed Bears passing game coordinator Thomas Brown last week, and has requested permission to speak with Chargers passing game coordinator Marcus Brady, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

As for the vision of what Vrabel hopes the Patriots' offense will be, he highlighted an "aggressive but not reckless" approach. He said creativity and versatility will be important, too, assuming the players can handle it. That means both zone and gap schemes in the running game, under center and shotgun in the passing game and tempo.

Whom Vrabel chooses to ultimately coordinate it remains one of the team's most intriguing storylines.