It’s been a couple of weeks since the New England Patriots axed their coach. It came after a horror season that ended with 4-13. Now the Patriots have signed another coach for the next season. Their history with coaches has been the talk of the town for obvious reasons. With a new addition to the list, the Patriots will get their 3rd coach in three years.

Earlier this month, the Patriots parted ways with head coach Jerod Mayo. This wasn’t just a bad year; it was one of the worst in the team’s history. Now, they’ve gone with former Titans coach Mike Vrabel. Of course, this mess was bound to get some reactions, and a Steelers legend has had his say on the matter.

Ben on Firing Jerod Mayo after a disastrous season

Retired Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger recently talked about the situation on his show, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger. When asked about Mayo’s firing, Big Ben said, “They always say, you never want to be the guy that replaces the guy; you want to be the guy that replaces the guy who replaced the guy.”  This is true for Mayo, as he had to fill Bill Belichick’s shoes. After joining the Patriots, Belichick created havoc by appearing in 9 Super Bowls and winning 6.

Talking about Belichick, Ben said, “No one wants to follow Belichick”. The former QB might be referencing how Belichick made the Patriots a dynasty with his ‘Do Your Job Philosophy’, giving each player clarity of their role. But, the situations for Mayo and Belichick were quite different. Mayo faced several issues, including inheriting a roster considered one of the least talented in the NFL. Patriots owner Robert Kraft admitted that he put Mayo in an “untenable situation” and acknowledged that Mayo needed more time before taking the job. Now, Kraft has turned towards the former Titans coach.

Will Mike Vrabel’s hiring save the Patriots dying hopes?

After Mayo’s axing, the Patriots signed Vrabel on the 12th of January. The former linebacker has indeed taken a tough challenge. When you see a franchise-changing so many coaches, ending two consecutive seasons at 4-13, you’ll think twice before taking the job as a coach. Not only that, despite winning their final game against the Buffalo Bills, the Patriots missed out on the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, instead picking No. 4. Also, their offensive line was a disaster, giving up pressure at the second-highest rate in the league.

But looking at Mike’s resume, you’d expect him to get the Patriots out of this current situation. The three-time Super Bowl-winning player turned coach was with the Titans before, reaching the AFC Championship Game in 2019. He also won the 2021 AP Coach of the Year title. He would want to take the Patriots back to the glory days of Belichick.

There are also positives in the team that will help Vrabel like, Joe Milton III, the rookie quarterback. Milton was the standout player in the final game of the season, leading the Patriots to a 23-16 victory over the Buffalo Bills. Additionally, the Patriots have a significant cap space and draft capital to improve their offense. If they manage to add some playmakers to support quarterback Drake Maye and rookie Joe Milton III, they’ll be in a pretty good spot. For that, we’ll have to wait for the upcoming NFL Draft.