NFL Rumors: This Executive Expected To Follow Mike Vrabel To Patriots

Mike Vrabel won’t be coming to Foxboro, Mass., alone.

The recently named Patriots head coach is expected to bring New York Giants personnel advisor Ryan Cowden to New England, according to Yahoo’s Charles Robinson.

Cowden will be “added to the Patriots personnel mix,” but not with a general manager title, per Robinson. Robinson believes Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf will retain power, but acknowledged the addition of Cowden is Vrabel’s preference.

“Dynamics will be interesting,” Robinson wrote on X.

Cowden spent the last two seasons as the New York Giants executive advisor to general manager Joe Schoen. Cowden previously worked with Vrabel in Tennessee where he served as the Titans director of player personnel and vice president of player personnel.

The Patriots on Sunday morning announced Vrabel as the team’s next head coach. Vrabel was considered the front-runner for the job as soon as New England fired first-year head coach Jerod Mayo last Sunday.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer previously reported Vrabel wanted to bring his own general manager with him, and name-dropped Cowden specifically.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft said Wolf, who was elevated last offseason after the firing of Bill Belichick, would be “staying on.” It was unknown what Wolf’s role would be, but Robinson’s reporting indicates Wolf will maintain final say on personnel.