Report: Patriots Eyeing Mike Tomlin To Replace Mike Vrabel
The New England Patriots reportedly already have a replacement in mind for Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel, who is entering Year 2 of his tenure with the Patriots, remains in the middle of a scandal. Vrabel, the former Titans head coach, has been photographed multiple times in intimate moments with former NFL insider Dianna Russini, who has since resigned from her position at The Athletic.
The Patriots head coach opted out of Day 3 of the NFL Draft, to work on his relationship with his family.
"As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend," Vrabel said before the NFL Draft. "This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.
"I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result."
While Vrabel's future with the Patriots appears to be secure - for now, anyway - a new report suggests that New England already has his potential replacement in mind.
A Patriots insider told Daily Mail reporters Russ Weakland and Ben Nagle that the franchise will eye Mike Tomlin to replace Mike Vrabel, if something ends up happening with the latter head coach.
Patriots ownership reportedly does not want to fire Vrabel, though as the controversy grows, it's possible something could happen.
Tomlin chose not to pursue a coaching job in 2026, though
Tomlin chose to leave the Steelers after the 2025 season. While some NFL teams expressed interest in hiring him for 2026, he opted for a TV job at NBC.
"It's probably not an overnight decision," Tomlin said. "But it's probably not something that I could articulate or share with people. There's a loneliness with leadership. I just thought it was a good time for me personally."
Tomlin admitted that a recent lack of playoff success played a role in the decision, too.
"We didn't have a lot of success in the playoffs in recent years. And there's just some veteran players there, man. Guys like Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt and [Chris] Boswell that I thought were just worthy of the excitement and optimism and the optimism associated with new leadership."
Tomlin will be a part of "Football Night in America" in 2026 - unless the Patriots come calling...
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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 10:26 AM.