Mike Vrabel Hired as Next Head Coach of Patriots - Was at 1-4 Odds

The New England Patriots announced Sunday morning the hiring of Mike Vrabel as their new head coach.  He was listed at 1-4 to be named by BetOnline.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft fired Jerod Mayo after the team’s season finale victory over the Buffalo Bills to finish 4-13 in his lone season as coach.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, former Houston Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson also interviewed for the job.

But Vrabel, a fan favorite during eight seasons as a player in New England where he was a member of its first three Super Bowl winners and an inductee into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2023, was the preferred candidate because of his long association with the franchise and coaching success during his six seasons in Tennessee.

In hiring the 49-year-old Vrabel, Kraft is turning to another former Patriots defensive standout who, like Mayo, built a reputation as a coach for his ability to relate to players.

The Next NFL Head Coach betting markets featured on Gambling911.com have been on fire over the past week in terms of overall traffic, including interest in Vrabel and the Patriots.