Bill Belichick controlled every aspect of the New England Patriots’ football operations for more than two decades. When he left the organization after the 2023 season, the organization was therefore forced to adapt its approach and modernize its hierarchy.
The big buzzword at the time was “collaboration,” with Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf at the top in their roles of head coach and executive vice president of player personnel, respectively.
Fast forward a year, and the Patriots find themselves in a new normal. Not only is Mayo gone, but his successor brought a more active voice when it comes to shaping the team: even with Wolf still around, Mike Vrabel is now hovering above New England’s roster construction process and somebody whose fingerprints will be all over the club.