{'byline': 'by Tom Carroll', 'hosts': '', 'byline_sources': '', 'hide_author': True, 'audience_id': '', 'original_station': [{'station': 'weei', 'path': 'weei/sports/patriots/mike-vrabel-hired-as-patriots-head-coach'}], 'syndicated_items': [{'station': '923thefan', 'path': '/923thefan/sports/mike-vrabel-hired-as-patriots-head-coach'}, {'station': 'waaf', 'path': '/waaf/sports/mike-vrabel-hired-as-patriots-head-coach'}, {'station': 'mix1041', 'path': '/mix1041/sports/mike-vrabel-hired-as-patriots-head-coach'}, {'station': 'magic1067', 'path': '/magic1067/sports/mike-vrabel-hired-as-patriots-head-coach'}, {'station': 'big103boston', 'path': '/big103boston/sports/mike-vrabel-hired-as-patriots-head-coach'}, {'station': 'wtic', 'path': '/wtic/sports/new-england-patriots/mike-vrabel-hired-as-patriots-head-coach'}], 'original_item': {'_index': 'published-content_v43', '_type': '_doc', '_score': None, '_source': {'date': '2025-01-12T15:21:49.055Z', 'lead': [{'data': {'title': 'Greg is saying when it comes to Vrabel, "Give him the keys! Give it all to him and get going!"', 'thumbnail_url': 'https://s2.dmcdn.net/v/XfcXi1dWJMhT7L9GK', 'id': 'x9c4cj0', 'created_time': 1736516206, 'mode': 'vod', 'private_id': 'k3Mv2ii9Vb9fihCcOf2', 'owner': 'x2ynwee', 'description': 'Greg is saying when it comes to Vrabel, "Give him the keys! Give it all to him and get going!"', 'channel': 'sport', 'tags': ['New England Patriots', 'Mike Vrabel', 'NFL'], 'private': False, 'addPublic': True}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/dailymotion/instances/cm5slccwp0011357pr1tqzm4x@published'}], 'slug': 'mike-vrabel-hired-as-patriots-head-coach', 'tags': ['NFL', 'Football', 'New England Patriots', 'Mike Vrabel'], 'feeds': {'msn': True, 'rss': True, 'postup': True, 'facebook': True, 'newsfeed': True, 'sitemaps': True, 'frequency': True, 'smartNews': True, 'apple-news': False, 'smart-news': True, 'most-popular': True, 'reversechron': True, 'google-news-feed': True}, 'hosts': [], 'adTags': {'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/ad-tags/instances/cm5slb3te000a01rmz2we2gj9@published'}, 'byline': [{'names': [{'name': 'Tom Carroll', 'text': 'Tom Carroll', 'slug': 'tom-carroll'}], 'sources': [], 'hosts': [], 'prefix': 'by'}], 'teaser': 'Patriots hire Mike Vrabel as next head coach', 'authors': ['Tom Carroll'], 'content': [{'data': {'text': 'The Patriots have agreed to terms with Mike Vrabel on a multi-year agreement to be their next head coach, <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1878461675013128452">according to ESPN\'s Adam Schefter</a>.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm5slb3te000e01rmm9c3sqio@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'The team confirmed Schefter\'s reporting on Sunday, <a href="https://x.com/Patriots/status/1878468227631559013">posting a graphic</a> welcoming Vrabel back to New England across their social media channels.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm5tsk6tr000k357pehrw29rq@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Vrabel, a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame for the eight seasons he spent in New England as a player, will make his return to Foxborough as the 16th head coach in franchise history.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm5sldc7f001z357pye53yzkh@published'}, {'data': {'text': '<iframe src="https://embed.radio.com?slug=weei&amp;type=station" style="border:0;height:136px;width:100%;overflow:hidden"></iframe>', 'isIframe': True, 'componentVariation': 'html-embed', 'fbInstantArticleHtml': '<iframe src="https://embed.radio.com?slug=weei&amp;type=station" style="border:0;height:136px;width:100%;overflow:hidden"></iframe>'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/html-embed/instances/cm5slcwnq001c357pkblz7e1i@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Receiving his red jacket in 2023, Vrabel won three Super Bowls while playing linebacker in a Patriots uniform. His best season came in 2007, being voted to the Pro Bowl and selected as a first-team All-Pro. He’s a member of the Patriots All-2000s Team, 50th Anniversary Team and All-Dynasty Team. And while many members of that vaunted dynasty defense have been more celebrated, Vrabel is routinely cited by his former teammates as the tone-setter for their unit.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm5sld37q001n357paxvxwc46@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'This will be Vrabel’s second stop as a head coach in the NFL, having previously served as head coach of the Titans from 2018 to 2023.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm5slfoi1002a357pd338v8iv@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'By his second season in Tennessee, Vrabel had turned a program hovering around .500 for a decade into a tough-nosed winner. Not only did he lead Tennessee to a 20-13 victory in the Wild Card Round at Gillette Stadium in Tom Brady’s final game as a member of the Patriots, he had his team playing in the 2019 AFC Championship Game two weeks later, putting a scare into the Chiefs in a 35-24 loss at Arrowhead.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm5slfoi1002b357pxq8obh82@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'He followed that up with consecutive double-digit-win seasons, going 11-5 in 2020 and 12-5 in 2021 as the AFC’s top seed. That 2021 season led to Vrabel winning NFL Coach of the Year, with his defense improving from 24th to sixth year-over-year, and doing so while the team dealt with a record-number of injuries. Vrabel fielded a record 91 (!) different players that season, yet still ended up with the best record in the conference.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm5slfoi1002c357px8yzhpyc@published'}, {'data': {'alt': 'Mike Vrabel', 'url': 'https://images.radio.com/aiu-media/gettyimages1420201636594x594-41179dbf-59de-4290-b991-767f5bd6084c.jpg', 'width': 594, 'credit': 'Michael Owens/Getty Images', 'height': 396, 'caption': 'INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Mike Vrabel receives the AP Coach of the Year Award at the NFL Honors show at the YouTube Theater on February 10, 2022 in Inglewood, California.', '_version': 1, 'imageLink': None, 'rendition': None, 'sizeInBytes': '25992', 'borderToggle': None, 'componentVariation': 'image'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/image/instances/cm5slj9hi003m357pk51zedoq@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Most impressive of all?', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm5slfoi1002d357pmtdj51tp@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'He did all that winning with Ryan Tannehill as his quarterback, leaning on an old-school ground-and-pound style that showcased running back Derrick Henry as one of the best players of his generation.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm5slfoi1002e357pw3g8hypz@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'After finishing below .500 in 2022 and 2023, Vrabel had a well-documented falling out with Titans ownership, ultimately leading to his ousting. After going 41-24 in his first four seasons on the job in Tennessee, a 13-21 record over his final two seasons was not good enough for Vrabel to stay on in Nashville.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm5slfoi1002f357pntnn7u3r@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'In 2024, Vrabel worked as a consultant on Kevin Stefanski’s staff in Cleveland - which, if you read <a href="https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/pro/browns/2024/11/25/where-will-mike-vrabel-coach/76577855007/">the Akron Beacon Journal’s story</a> on what Vrabel’s role entailed, seemingly had the 49-year-old relatively hands-off for the team’s 3-14 season.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm5slfoi1002g357pcjzf7u35@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Hands off or not, this allowed Vrabel to stay involved in the game this season, as he was passed over for multiple head coaching openings last offseason.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm5slfoi1002h357p7ax38y80@published'}, {'data': {'alt': 'Mike Vrabel', 'url': 'https://images.radio.com/aiu-media/GettyImages1750607479-d53f5432-7ab1-4ba7-bf6c-41e4f657f4c2.jpg', 'width': 1024, 'credit': 'Maddie Meyer/Getty Images', 'height': 683, 'caption': 'FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 22: Former player Mike Vrabel speaks during a New England Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony during halftime of the game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.', '_version': 1, 'imageLink': None, 'rendition': None, 'sizeInBytes': '60500', 'borderToggle': None, 'componentVariation': 'image'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/image/instances/cm5slicqh003e357pkwxax7ux@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Vrabel is a proven winner, and someone who will establish a tough culture from day one on the job in New England. That’s who he was as a player, and that mindset has translated over to his personality as a head coach.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm5slfoi1002i357p8quo5alt@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'And after <a href="https://www.audacy.com/weei/sports/patriots/jerod-mayo-reportedly-tried-to-demote-steve-belichick">the season New England just had under Mayo</a>, it’s time for the organization to bring an adult in the room and clean things up.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm5slfoi1002j357ps0i8f593@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Stay locked in to WEEI and WEEI.com for all the latest on this breaking news story.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm5slfoi1002k357pzud98jg4@published'}], 'feedImg': {'data': {'alt': 'Mike Vrabel', 'url': 'https://images.radio.com/aiu-media/GettyImages1750607479-2337e6bf-1cae-4c22-bc8e-a53b0d20dc42.jpg', 'width': 1024, 'credit': 'Maddie Meyer/Getty Images', 'height': 683, 'mimeType': 'image/jpeg', 'sizeInBytes': '60500', 'componentVariation': 'feed-image'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/feed-image/instances/cm5slb3te000b01rmi4yuonjv@published'}, 'sources': [], '_version': 24, 'featured': False, 'headline': 'Patriots hire Mike Vrabel as next head coach', 'msnTitle': 'Patriots hire Mike Vrabel as next head coach', 'textTags': ['NFL', 'Football', 'New England Patriots', 'Mike Vrabel'], '_msnTitle': {'shouldOverride': False}, 'apContent': None, 'isOpinion': False, 'pageTitle': 'Patriots hire Mike Vrabel as next head coach', 'sideShare': {'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/share/instances/cm5slb3te000c01rmxeafvklu@published'}, 'feedImgUrl': 'https://images.radio.com/aiu-media/GettyImages1750607479-2337e6bf-1cae-4c22-bc8e-a53b0d20dc42.jpg', 'feedLayout': 'small', 'showSocial': True, 'stationURL': 'https://www.audacy.com/weei', 'breadcrumbs': [{'hidden': False, 'text': 'WEEI 93.7', 'url': '//www.audacy.com/weei'}, {'hidden': False, 'text': 'Sports', 'url': '//www.audacy.com/weei/sports'}, {'hidden': False, 'text': 'Patriots', 'isLastVisibleDivider': True, 'url': '//www.audacy.com/weei/sports/patriots'}, {'hidden': True, 'text': 'Patriots hire Mike Vrabel as next head coach', 'url': '//www.audacy.com/weei/sports/patriots/mike-vrabel-hired-as-patriots-head-coach'}], 'contentType': 'article', 'seoHeadline': 'Patriots hire Mike Vrabel as next head coach', 'stationName': 'WEEI 93.7', 'stationSlug': 'weei', 'dateModified': '2025-01-13T14:00:38.956Z', 'featuredNews': True, 'sectionFront': 'sports', 'fullWidthLead': False, 'shortHeadline': 'Patriots hire Mike Vrabel as next head coach', 'syndicatedUrl': None, 'unityPageType': 'article', 'featuredSports': False, 'msnTitleLength': 44, 'seoDescription': 'According to Adam Schefter, the New England Patriots have agreed to terms with Mike Vrabel on becoming the 16th head coach in franchise history. 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