Mike Vrabel, Eliot Wolf Will Both Report To Patriots Ownership
Since the Patriots hired Mike Vrabel as their head coach, there have been some questions regarding the organizational hierarchy. Despite the major changes, it sounds like the team’s operations should remain status quo. According to Albert Breer of SI.com, both Vrabel and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf will report to ownership, an indication that there’s no singular leader in the front office.
When Vrabel was brought on, it was assumed that he’d have a major influence over player personnel. That will surely be the case, but it sounds like it will be a collaborative approach vs. the former totalitarian approach under Bill Belichick. While last season’s results left plenty to be desired, Breer notes that Wolf and former HC Jerod Mayo already started making an effort to build an actual football ops department, something that was sorely lacking.
The next step could see the Vrabel/Wolf duo look to improve the “player-development side” of operations. The Patriots had “next to nothing” in that regard under Belichick, meaning there was effectively nobody overseeing the development of bottom-of-the-roster players and practice squad players. The Patriots could also look to improve their football analytics/research department (with Marshall Oium a name to watch) and their sports science department.
Following a dismal season in New England, it was thought that Mayo may not be the only casualty. However, Breer notes that ownership was impressed by Wolf during his first season at the helm. The executive worked on “modernizing the scouting department” and building out football operations. Wolf’s strategy won’t be completely foreign to Vrabel; as Breer writes, Tennessee’s Chad Brinker had a similar Green Bay-centric grading system, so New England’s head coach is already familiar with the perspective.
Vrabel is also familiar with a handful of other members of New England’s front office. Ohio State alums Camren Williams and Pat Stewart are the Patriots college and pro scouting directors (respectively). In fact, Vrabel recruited Williams to the Buckeyes when he was on Ohio State’s staff. Of course, Vrabel has also influenced some new additions to the front office dynamic. Ryan Cowden, who previously held multiple high-ranking roles in the Titans front office, was brought over to New England earlier this offseason. Breer notes that Cowden will definitively be under Wolf in the franchise’s pecking order.
Vrabel also continues to add to his coaching staff. According to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, Zak Kuhr has agreed to join the Patriots. Kuhr spent four seasons working under Vrabel in Tennessee, and he spent this past season on the Giants defensive coaching staff. Meanwhile, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports that John Streicher is also joining the staff in New England. “Stretch” spent this past year as the Rams game management coordinator, and he also has experience working alongside Vrabel in Tennessee.
The Patriots’ first season in their post-Belichick era revealed some major cracks in the organization’s foundation. While the team still isn’t operating with a traditional front office hierarchy, it doesn’t sound like there will be any power struggle between some of the team’s major voices.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/22/25
Today’s reserve/futures contracts:
Las Vegas Raiders
- WR Alex Bachman
Trevon Diggs Underwent Knee Surgery
Trevon Diggs might not be ready for the start of training camp, and there’s a chance the Cowboys cornerback is sidelined for even longer than that. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, Diggs underwent chondral tissue graft surgery on his left knee today.
We previously heard that Diggs’ impending surgery could sideline him for the start of training camp. It was always expected that the player would undergo bone graft surgery, which requires a longer recovery time but would offer the best long-term outlook. It was initially suggested that recovery could take up to eight months, and that timeline would keep Diggs off the field through the start of the regular season.
Archer notes that Diggs underwent the surgery now vs. several weeks ago because “the growing of the graft” would “ensure best results.” Archer describes the procedure as “a more modern take on a micro-fracture surgery,” with the reporter comparing it to an operation that former Cowboys (and current Commanders) WR Noah Brown underwent earlier in his career.
Diggs was reportedly playing through significant pain this past season before suffering another cartilage issue. Diggs spent much of the 2024 campaign banged up, as the veteran battled a torn calf while also missing two games with designations of groin and knee injuries. Fortunately, this latest issue isn’t related to his ACL tear from the 2023 campaign.
The Cowboys are surely hoping the former second-round pick can return to form as soon as possible, as Diggs just completed the first year of his five-year, $97MM extension. The defensive back is only a few years removed from his prolific 11-interception season, and his 2022 follow-up was just as productive. After his 2023 campaign was wiped out by that aforementioned ACL injury, Diggs managed to get into 11 games during his comeback campaign. The 26-year-old finished the year with 42 tackles and a pair of interceptions, with Pro Football Focus grading him 91st among 118 qualifying cornerbacks.
Titans Hire John Fassel As ST Coordinator
John Fassel is heading to Tennessee. The Titans are hiring the long-time coach to be their special teams coordinator, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
“Bones” has been coaching in the NFL since 2005. He previously held the ST coordinator title at three stops, and he’s often been paired with elite kickers (Sebastian Janikowski/Raiders, Greg Zuerlein/Rams, Brandon Aubrey/Cowboys). During his stop in Los Angeles, he helped form the trio of Zuerlein, punter Johnny Hekker, and long snapper Jake McQuaide. When Jeff Fisher was canned during the 2016 season, Hassel briefly stepped in as the interim head coach.
He stuck with the Rams under Sean McVay‘s leadership before leaving for the Cowboys in 2020. He spent the past few years in Dallas, and ESPN’s Todd Archer notes that the organization hoped to retain Fassel despite their uncertain coaching outlook.
Instead, he’ll be taking his talents to Tennessee. Fassel will be replacing Colt Anderson, who spent one season in the role. Anderson is technically still on the staff, although it’s uncertain if he’ll be back in 2025. The Titans’ special teams unit was blamed for an early-season loss to the Bears, and the squad allowed a pair of blocked punts during the year.
Ryan Stonehouse should be back as the punter in 2025, but the rest of the team’s ST unit isn’t as certain. Veteran Nick Folk is set to hit free agency, although the kicker did express interest in returning to Tennessee for another year.
Lions’ Kelvin Sheppard Emerging As Popular DC Candidate
With Aaron Glenn trending towards New York, there’s a good chance that one of his soon-to-be-former assistants will be a hot name on the DC market. According to Jordan Schultz, Lions linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard is expected to be a candidate for open defensive coordinator jobs.
[RELATED: Jets Moving Toward Aaron Glenn, Lance Newmark Hires]
Of course, Sheppard’s coordinator candidacy will be partly tied to Glenn. If the current Lions DC ends up taking the Jets head coaching job (or another HC gig), then Sheppard would be a natural replacement on Detroit’s sideline. Further, Sheppard could also be an option to join Glenn in New York (or elsewhere).
A 2011 third-round pick out of LSU, Sheppard spent nearly a decade in the NFL. A few years after his retirement, he joined Detroit’s coaching staff as their outside linebackers coach. After a year in that role, Sheppard transitioned to inside linebackers coach, a title he’s held for the past three seasons.
The coach has earned praise for helping revive the careers of veterans (like Alex Anzalone) and helping guide young draft picks (like Jack Campbell and Malcolm Rodriguez). Per Schultz, Sheppard has a “sterling” reputation not only in Detroit, but around the NFL…so a promotion might not be dependent on a Lions connection.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/21/25
Today’s reserve/futures contracts:
Atlanta Falcons
- WR David Sills
Baltimore Ravens
- OT Corey Bullock, WR Malik Cunningham, G Darrian Dalcourt, LB William Kwenkeu, QB Devin Leary, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, DE Adedayo Odeleye, DT C.J. Okoye, DE C.J. Ravenell, WR Dayton Wade
Carolina Panthers
- LB Carlos Basham, TE James Mitchell
Detroit Lions
- WR Ronnie Bell
Philadelphia Eagles
- TE Cameron Latu
Pittsburgh Steelers
- DB Cameron McCutcheon
San Francisco 49ers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- DE Adam Gotsis, P Jake Julien
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/21/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Released: QB Anthony Brown
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: WR Elijah Cooks
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/21/25
One minor move to pass along:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Extended: TE Cam Grandy
It’s a one-year extension for Cam Grandy, who can now avoid exclusive rights free agency and stick with the Bengals through the offseason. As a 24-year-old undrafted rookie, Grandy started six of his eight appearances in 2024, hauling in five catches. He also got into more than a quarter of his team’s special teams snaps.
Terrell Williams Favorite For Patriots DC Job?
Mike Vrabel has already found his new offensive coordinator. Now, it sounds like the new Patriots head coach is zeroing in on his defensive coordinator. According to Matt Zenitz CBS Sports, the Patriots are targeting Lions DL coach Terrell Williams for their DC gig.
[RELATED: Patriots To Hire Josh McDaniels As OC]
Albert Breer of TheMMQB provides some more insight, noting that the Patriots requested and were granted permission to interview Williams. The Patriots have also spoken to the coach (although it sounds like conversation this was more informal than an official interview), and people within the Lions organization are expecting Williams to head east.
Williams was one of Vrabel’s most-trusted lieutenants during their time in Tennessee, where Williams served as assistant head coach in addition to his duties as defensive line coach. The duo worked alongside each other for their entire five-year stint with the Titans, and that relationship automatically made Williams a name-to-watch for the Patriots DC gig.
Over his five years as the Titans DL coach, the team allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards in the NFL. The coach was credited with the development of Denico Autry, who compiled at least eight sacks in three-straight seasons, and former first-round pick Jeffery Simmons, who earned a pair of All-Pro nods under Williams’ tutelage. After the Titans cleaned house last offseason, Williams joined the Lions as their run-game coordinator/defensive line coach.
While the fate of Jerod Mayo‘s staff was uncertain, it seemed pretty clear that Vrabel would look to bring in his own coaches. DeMarcus Covington was New England’s DC in 2024, with the Patriots ranking just outside the bottom-10 in points allowed and yards allowed.
Bears Denied Meeting With Steelers HC Mike Tomlin
The Bears continue to leave no stone unturned in their search for a new head coach. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bears reached out to the Steelers about head coach Mike Tomlin.
Specifically, the Bears asked if they “would be allowed to talk to and potentially try to trade” for Tomlin. That inquiry was ultimately rebuffed by the Steelers. The Bears apparently weren’t the only team to ask about Tomlin; per Schefter, another squad checked in with the Steelers.
While the Steelers would obviously have a major say in a potential Tomlin ouster, it sounds like the coach also has the ability to control his future. Per Schefter, Tomlin possesses a no-trade clause, so any potential suitors would face multiple hurdles if they were serious about a pursuit.
The Bears have been especially aggressive in their search for a new head coach. The team has interviewed or requested an interview with some of this cycle’s most popular candidates, ranging from hot shot coordinators like Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to long-time head coach Pete Carroll. The team has even looked towards the college ranks, with a recent report indicating that the Bears wanted to interview Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman.
As our 2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker shows, the Bears have either interviewed or requested interviews with 17 candidates, and there are a handful of additional options that have been connected to the organization. Considering the team’s wide search, it isn’t a surprise that they took a swing at Tomlin. This report also indicates that the Bears wouldn’t be shy about making a trade for a HC. ESPN’s Courtney Cronin notes that Bears GM Ryan Poles was apparently sincere when he said the team would “look at all avenues to get the best coach” in Chicago.
Tomlin would represent one of the most experienced and accomplished coaching options for the Bears. He’s served as the Steelers head coach since the 2007 campaign, and he’s famously never had a losing season during his 18 years in Pittsburgh. This run has included 12 playoff appearances, including a Super Bowl championship during his second season on the sideline. More recently, the veteran coach has drawn criticism for the Steelers’ lack of postseason success. The team has made the playoffs in four of the past five years, with each of those appearances resulting in a one-and-done showing.