Patriots Announce Candidates Who Interviewed For Head Coach Vacancy

The New England Patriots wasted no time getting started searching for their next head coach after firing Jerod Mayo on Sunday.

The team announced Tuesday they have completed interviews with Byron Leftwich and Pep Hamilton for the vacant position, ultimately fulfilling its obligation to the Rooney Rule.

What that means is the Patriots can now hire a new coach at any time, and their number one target is reportedly scheduled to meet with New England on Thursday.

Is Robert Kraft simply repeating history by having tunnel vision when it comes to former Patriot and three-time Super Bowl champion Mike Vrabel? It’s not that Vrabel wouldn’t be a better fit in New England than Mayo was; he does have five years of head coaching experience with the Tennessee Titans. However, Kraft was so set on hiring Mayo after parting ways with Bill Belichick that the Patriots owner did not give Vrabel a second thought.

Both Mayo and his predecessor were defensive-minded coaches, so it might be a good idea for New England to focus on a coach with more offensive experience this time around. Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson fits that mold perfectly.

The Patriots reportedly have an interview lined up with Johnson. New England might benefit from giving him a long look and an even better pitch than what they could present to Vrabel. Johnson has a ceiling that hasn’t even come close to closing as one of the most creative offensive minds in the game. Just imagine what he could do with Drake Maye.

If New England appears to be just going through the motions in its search for a head coach, Johnson could walk away before Kraft can make a real pitch. Johnson is expected to be extremely selective about the teams he interviews with.