The Patriots were expected to make a “wide-ranging search” for their next head coach, but they seem to only have one name in mind.
New England on Tuesday interviewed Byron Leftwich and Pep Hamilton for its head coach vacancy, as announced by the organization. That means the Patriots fulfilled the requirements of the Rooney Rule and can hire a head coach at any time.
That’s a fast process after Robert Kraft took accountability for setting Jerod Mayo up to fail. The Patriots owner had the 38-year-old in mind to be Bill Belichick’s successor for five years, and as a result, their head-coaching search was nonexistent.
Those vibes were felt after Tuesday’s confirmation from the team. New England reportedly scheduled interviews with Ben Johnson and Mike Vrabel, but it sure feels like Kraft set his eyes out on Vrabel from the very start.
Multiple reports indicated New England is where Vrabel will end up even after his interviews with the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears. If that’s the case, that’s fine. But why not go through the whole process?
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What if Johnson is a better fit? Brian Flores is one of the most qualified candidates on the market. He deserves a chance to at least make his case. Liam Cohen is a Rhode Island native who knows just as much as anyone else how important winning is for the Patriots.
Again, if all of these interviews lead you back to Vrabel, that’s fine. But there’s no reason to rush this process. Eliot Wolf and the rest of the front office will be retained, so an incoming head coach won’t be behind when it comes to the draft. There’ll be plenty of time for an incoming head coach to build his staff since it’s very likely someone like Vrabel or Johnson has theirs planned out.
The Patriots need to let the interview process play out before making the most important decision in the franchise’s history.
Featured image via Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports Images
