Right off the bat, Vrabel was viewed as the favorite to end up being his replacement. In fact, the rumors about Vrabel started well before Mayo was actually fired. A new shocking

FOXBORO -- The New England Patriots have hired Mike Vrabel to be the team's next head coach. For Vrabel, it's a return to the franchise that he won three Super Bowl titles with as a player. Sources confirmed to WBZ-TV's Dan Roche Sunday morning that the Patriots have hired Vrabel.

The New England Patriots have found their next head coach. And it's a familiar face. The club has hired Mike Vrabel, who won three Super Bowl championships with the franchise as a player, to lead the organization as its head coach going forward according to CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones and later made official by the Patriots.