As the outlook on the Patriots’ future started to become more and more bleak, Robert Kraft didn’t have to search far and wide for a source of optimism.
It probably didn’t take very long for Kraft to realize he missed the mark on Jerod Mayo, who was hand-picked years ago to be Bill Belichick’s successor. The idea of changing head coaches twice in as many years is a daunting and undesirable scenario, but fortunately for the Patriots, an ideal recovery plan was readily available.
“The reality: Mike Vrabel’s availability hovered over the Patriots’ decision-making process,” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer posted to X on Sunday.