Mike Vrabel’s Return to the Patriots

In a surprising twist of events, it has been revealed that Mike Vrabel didn’t just land back at the New England Patriots by chance. According to NFL insider reports, Vrabel confided in his former teammate Tom Brady, now a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, that his heart was set on returning to the Patriots long before any official moves were made.

This revelation sheds light on why the Raiders, who were initially rumored to be chasing Vrabel aggressively due to Brady’s involvement in their coaching search, ultimately did not interview him. Instead, both the New York Jets and Chicago Bears took their chances by interviewing him, which may now seem like a wasted effort. It appears Vrabel's strategy was possibly to create leverage pushing the Patriots to finalize their decision sooner than later.

Insider Tom Pelissero shared insights, stating, “The most-rumored landing spot for Mike Vrabel was with the Raiders, considering Tom Brady’s presence as a minority owner and his influence in the search. However, the Raiders never made a request for an interview after Vrabel communicated to Brady that New England was his preferred destination.”

While fans speculated that Vrabel would inevitably return to the franchise where he celebrated three Super Bowl victories, the situation grew murky after Robert Kraft, owner of the Patriots, swiftly fired another beloved former player, Jerod Mayo, following the team's disappointing end to the season. This raised eyebrows about the manner in which Vrabel treated his potential landing spot—almost as if it were a mere formality.

In compliance with the Rooney Rule, the Patriots were required to interview two minority candidates before sealing the deal with Vrabel, leading them to engage former NFL offensive coordinators Pep Hamilton and Byron Leftwich, both of whom are currently out of the league and available for interviews.

Furthermore, in a twist of intrigue, reports suggest Brady is actively pursuing Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who has garnered a reputation for his exceptional handling of quarterback Jared Goff. However, the Raiders' lack of a franchise quarterback could complicate their pursuit, leaving them at a disadvantage.

As fans eagerly await the official announcement of Vrabel’s hiring, the question looms: Did Tom Brady play a crucial role in shaping the future of the Patriots? ONLY TIME WILL TELL!