Believe it or not, the rumor mill is churning again in New England. After a whirlwind week of personal turmoil for head coach Mike Vrabel, some whispers are suggesting the Patriots might look to replace him with none other than Mike Tomlin. But NFL fans are having none of it.
The chatter started after photos surfaced of Vrabel spending time with NFL insider Dianna Russini in Arizona and New York. Following the public scrutiny, Vrabel announced he would seek counseling, saying, “I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me… I have committed to seeking counseling.” He returned to the Patriots just 48 hours later, but that hasn’t stopped the speculation.
According to a report from the Daily Mail, the Patriots would consider hiring Tomlin if Vrabel steps down. But the reigning AFC champions are reportedly hoping to keep their current coach for the 2026 season and beyond.
Online, Patriots fans are not exactly rolling out the red carpet for Tomlin. One fan wrote, “Time to stop entertaining these reports now good god.” Another added, “Makes zero sense bc Tomlin has a whole other contract with another company he just signed and he just said he don’t wanna coach anymore.”
A third fan sarcastically noted, “Resign? Dude just got a four hour therapy session… He’s good to go…” And one particularly passionate supporter declared, “I promise if we hire this guy I’m done with this team.”
Tomlin already has a gig lined up for 2026. He’s officially signed on as an analyst for NBC’s “Football Night in America,” a role he’s clearly excited about. NBC shakes up its pregame show with Tomlin traveling to different venues each week. He told ESPN, “I just thought it’d be a great way to stay connected to the game… I love to talk football.”
For now, NFL fans should expect to see Tomlin covering games next season, not pacing the sideline in Foxborough. But if Vrabel’s situation takes another turn, who knows? The rumor mill never sleeps.
