Robert Kraft considered hiring Mike Vrabel as the successor to Bill Belichick before ultimately hiring Jerod Mayo as the next head coach.
Jerod Mayo was always identified as the next head coach due to a clause in his contract and a successor plan put together by Mayo and the Patriots.
Vrabel was fired by the Titans after six years as head coach and the decision to let him go was influenced by his visit to Foxborough and rumors of him potentially becoming the next Patriots head coach.