Mike Vrabel's name has been thrown around quite a bit since the Patriots fired first-year head coach Jerod Mayo, but another big name on New England's radar could take the job.
The Patriots have asked to speak with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson about the head coaching position. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.
Johnson is scheduled to meet with the team this week, and the Bears are also reportedly interested in the 38-year-old for their vacant head coaching position.
“He's interested in those jobs, he's been interested in the Bears job for a while, and now that he's available to work with Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, it's certainly We may monitor it,” Pelissero said in an interview. Segment on NFL Network.
Vrabel, who played in New England, has not yet been officially involved in meetings with the Patriots.
Johnson is considered one of the top coaching candidates, and his name has been floated the past two offseasons when the coaching position was open.
He helped turn the Lions' offense into one of the league's top units, and is credited with finishing the regular season with 564 total points, the fifth-most in the NFL.
Johnson interviewed with the Commanders, Seahawks, Panthers, Falcons and Chargers last year, but ultimately chose to return to the Lions.
The Patriots fired Mayo after just one season, and the team finished with 4 wins and 13 losses.
He was fired shortly after the Pats beat the Bills in their final game of the season on Sunday.
“I feel terrible because we put Jerrod in an intolerable situation,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a press conference Monday. “I know he has all the tools to be a head coach and be successful in this league, but he just needed more time. At the end of the day, I'm a fan of this team first and foremost. Now we have to go find a coach who can get us back to the playoffs and hopefully get us to a championship.”
