This is an important offseason for the New England Patriots, who hired Mike Vrabel to be their new head coach after dismissing Jerod Mayo following his first year in that role.
They have a potential franchise quarterback in Drake Maye, who just completed his rookie season, and tons of salary cap space to work with over the next few months, not to mention the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
As Vrabel looks to form his coaching staff, the Patriots reportedly are parting ways with four offensive assistants.
“The Patriots will not have TEs coach Bob Bicknell, RBs coach Taylor Embree, WRs coach Tyler Hughes, and assistant WRs coach Tiquan Underwood return to the staff in 2025, per Mike Reiss (of ESPN),” Carlos A. Lopez wrote on X.
The #Patriots will not have TEs coach Bob Bicknell, RBs coach Taylor Embree, WRs coach Tyler Hughes, and assistant WRs coach Tiquan Underwood return to the staff in 2025, per @MikeReiss. pic.twitter.com/kD2rx4ZJgf
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) January 17, 2025
Vrabel made a name for himself during six seasons as the Tennessee Titans head coach from 2018 to 2023.
During those years, though the Titans had star running back Derrick Henry, he never had a ton of support without an elite, or even near-elite, quarterback.
Yet Vrabel got them to the playoffs three times, which included an unexpected trip to the AFC Championship game during the 2019 season when they upset the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round.
Now, Vrabel will have the opportunity to shape the next era of Patriots football and make the franchise respectable, if not formidable, for the first time in several years.
Since legendary quarterback Tom Brady departed following the 2019 campaign, New England has surpassed eight wins just once, and while it’s far from being out of the woods, the organization took a big step toward a revival by hiring Vrabel.
NEXT: NFL Insider Reveals What He’s Hearing About Patriots’ OC Hire
