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This has been discussed before, but I came across 2 recent items that reminded me about how good and deep the Patriots coaching staff is:
This second article mentions that WR coach Todd Downing was AJ Brown's OC in Tennessee with Mike Vrabel. I was not aware of that.
The coaching staff under Jerod Mayo was a joke. BB had some great staff, but also some head-scratchers (Matt Patricia as OC comes to mind, among others). Mike Vrabel seems to have put together a deep, experienced, and personally connected crew.
To highlight a few:
Mike Vrabel, HC: DC, Texans (2017). HC, Titans (2018-2024). Sets the tone and the culture, very driven, player oriented.
Terrell Williams, Assistant HC: DL coach, Raiders (2012-2014), Dolphins (2015-2017) and Titans under Vrabel (2018-2023). Assistant HC, Titans (2023). DC, Patriots (2025).
Josh McDaniels, OC: OC, Patriots, 2006-2008 (while Vrabel was a player). HC, Broncos, 2009-2010. OC, Ramsey, 2011. OC Patriots, 2012-2021. HC, Raiders, 2022-2023.
Doug Marrone, OL Coach: OL. Coach, Jets (2002-2005) and Saints (2006-2007). OC, Saints, 207-2007. HC, Syracuse, 2009-2012. HC, Bills, 2013-2014. OL and Assistant H, Jacksonville, 2015-2016, became interim HC. HC, Jacksonville, 2017-2020. OL coach, Saints, 2022.
Thomas Brown, TE Coach: RB and Assistant HC, Rams (2021-2022). OC, Carolina (2023). OC and Interim HC, Bears (2024). Viewed as a potential future HC candidate.
Todd Dowling, WR Coach: Served as OC for the Raiders (2017) and for the Titans under Vrabel (2021-2022).
Ashton Grant, QB Coach: A relatively young coach, worked with Vrabel in Cleveland (2024). Apparently viewed as a future OC.
Zak Kuhr, DC: Worked with Vrabel in Tennessee from 2020-2023. Was interim DC last year with Terrell Williams out, did well enough to earn the full time job.
It's a nice mix of experience and creative young minds, a lot of experience with Vrabel, and probably one of the better coaching weapons in the NFL. I think it's an under-appreciated asset.
Up-and-coming coach explains decision to stay with Patriots
Ashton Grant decided to stay put despite some offensive coordinator interest.
www.patspulpit.com
The Patriots called about A.J. Brown for 2 years and were 'laughed at.' Now, the ex-Eagles WR is practicing with them
Patriots executive Eliot Wolf is relishing the opportunity work with a receiver he's had his eye on since his college days. "All right, he's still got some juice.'"
sports.yahoo.com
This second article mentions that WR coach Todd Downing was AJ Brown's OC in Tennessee with Mike Vrabel. I was not aware of that.
The coaching staff under Jerod Mayo was a joke. BB had some great staff, but also some head-scratchers (Matt Patricia as OC comes to mind, among others). Mike Vrabel seems to have put together a deep, experienced, and personally connected crew.
To highlight a few:
Mike Vrabel, HC: DC, Texans (2017). HC, Titans (2018-2024). Sets the tone and the culture, very driven, player oriented.
Terrell Williams, Assistant HC: DL coach, Raiders (2012-2014), Dolphins (2015-2017) and Titans under Vrabel (2018-2023). Assistant HC, Titans (2023). DC, Patriots (2025).
Josh McDaniels, OC: OC, Patriots, 2006-2008 (while Vrabel was a player). HC, Broncos, 2009-2010. OC, Ramsey, 2011. OC Patriots, 2012-2021. HC, Raiders, 2022-2023.
Doug Marrone, OL Coach: OL. Coach, Jets (2002-2005) and Saints (2006-2007). OC, Saints, 207-2007. HC, Syracuse, 2009-2012. HC, Bills, 2013-2014. OL and Assistant H, Jacksonville, 2015-2016, became interim HC. HC, Jacksonville, 2017-2020. OL coach, Saints, 2022.
Thomas Brown, TE Coach: RB and Assistant HC, Rams (2021-2022). OC, Carolina (2023). OC and Interim HC, Bears (2024). Viewed as a potential future HC candidate.
Todd Dowling, WR Coach: Served as OC for the Raiders (2017) and for the Titans under Vrabel (2021-2022).
Ashton Grant, QB Coach: A relatively young coach, worked with Vrabel in Cleveland (2024). Apparently viewed as a future OC.
Zak Kuhr, DC: Worked with Vrabel in Tennessee from 2020-2023. Was interim DC last year with Terrell Williams out, did well enough to earn the full time job.
It's a nice mix of experience and creative young minds, a lot of experience with Vrabel, and probably one of the better coaching weapons in the NFL. I think it's an under-appreciated asset.
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