The fact that Vrabel was available made the best choice an easy one. Kraft hasn’t run an actual coaching search since 1997 when he hired Pete Carroll. The two hires that followed — Bill Belichick in 2000 and Jerod Mayo last year — were both examples of Kraft selecting people who he already knew, liked and trusted.

The Patriots turned to Vrabel after their quick coaching search wrapped up just seven days after the team fired Jerod Mayo.

After trying to move on from the Bill Belichick era, the Patriots are now going right back to a successor much more like him.

Mike Vrabel is now the 16 th head coach in New England Patriots history and his appointment comes less than a year after Jerod Mayo was introduced. Mayo, owner Robert Kraft’s handpicked choice as coach, led the Patriots to a 4-13 season and was fired ...

Former NFL GM Rod Graves criticized the Patriots' usage of the Rooney Rule by interviewing two black candidates before hiring Mike Vrabel.

Robert Kraft had some interesting comments when it comes to the Patriots rumored interest in Mike Vrabel.

Mike Vrabel discussed the appeal of the Patriots, Eliot Wolf's role in New England, and more during his introductory press conference Monday.

NFL playing career as an assistant coach at Ohio State in 2011, he had thoughts of one day returning to the New England Patriots.

FOXBOROUGH — A year ago, Robert Kraft sat next to Jerod Mayo after introducing him as the new Patriots head coach and the two fielded questions side-by-side, volleying answers back and forth. That wasn’t the setup on Monday afternoon in the Sports Illustrated Pavilion.

You never want to be the guy who replaces a legend. Phil Bengston was a defensive genius. His guidance helped the Green Bay Packers dominate the NFL during the 1960s. But Phil is best remembered,

The Pats were thought to be rebuilding a few years ago. Looking back on it, from Tom Brady's exit to Jerod Mayo's, they were falling apart.

Vrabel, 49, was introduced by Patriots owner Robert Kraft Monday after the team announced he was hired as the 16th head coach in franchise history.