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

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.

New England Patriots chairman and CEO Robert Kraft formally introduced Patriots legend Mike Vrabel as the franchise’s 16th head coach at a press conference held at Gillette Stadium.

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

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 ...

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

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

The New England Patriots have a new coach in Mike Vrabel, who revealed what he will remove from the organization.

Robert Kraft stayed true to his word by moving quickly to reach a deal with Mike Vrabel, a former New England linebacker, as the Patriots' new coach.

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.

FOXBOROUGH — Mike Vrabel still has plenty to sort out in his new role as Patriots coach, but he already has a vision for his program. “I want to galvanize our football team,” Vrabel said Monday at Gillette Stadium. “I want to galvanize this building. I want to galvanize our fans.”

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.