Mike Vrabel isn’t wasting any time now that he’s at the helm of the New England Patriots.

In his first week on the job, he’s reportedly interviewed a candidate for a key coaching position on the Patriots staff.

NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday night that the Patriots spent this past Tuesday — one day after Vrabel’s first appearance as head coach — interviewing Chicago Bears interim head coach and offensive coordinator Thomas Brown.

Brown served as the Bears passing game coordinator before being elevated to interim offensive head coach and offensive coordinator when Chicago fired Matt Eberflus during the middle of the season. Brown went 1-4 at the helm.

Brown has no previous connection to Vrabel. He spent nine seasons in various roles in the college ranks before joining Sean McVay’s staff with the Los Angeles Rams as a running backs coach in 2020. Brown stayed with the Rams for three seasons and was promoted to assistant head coach/tight ends coach in 2022.

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Brown left the Rams to become the Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator in 2023. The Panthers scored just 13.9 points per game that season — tied for the lowest mark in the NFL with the Patriots.

Brown surely will be the first of many to interview to replace Alex Van Pelt, who officially hasn’t been let go by the Patriots, but Rapoport made clear in his report that the position is “vacant.”

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