Mike Vrabel is cleaning house at the New England Patriots facility. With his reign set to begin, the new head coach is getting rid of the coaching staff from previous eras.
Vrabel’s latest axe fell on Bill Belichick’s son, Brian Belichick, who had worked as the safeties coach in Foxborough for five seasons. With Brian’s exit, the Patriots have now gotten rid of all the Belichicks from their organization.
Brian Belichick Departs From Patriots as Mike Vrabel Takes Hold
Brian Belichick joined the Patriots during his father’s tenure in 2016 as a scouting assistant. From 2017 to 2019, he took on the role of a coaching assistant and then became the team’s safeties coach in 2020.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss broke the news of Belichick’s departure from New England on X (formerly Twitter).
“Brian Belichick, who spent the last five seasons as safeties coach, will be moving on from the Patriots in 2025. He initially served as a scouting assistant in 2016 and a coaching assistant from 2017-2019. Devin McCourty, among others, have spoken highly of his coaching acumen,” he tweeted.
Brian Belichick, who spent the last five seasons as safeties coach, will be moving on from the Patriots in 2025.
He initially served as a scouting assistant in 2016 and a coaching assistant from 2017-2019.
Devin McCourty, among others, have spoken highly of his coaching acumen.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 28, 2025
Brian’s elder brother, Stephen Belichick, was also a part of the Patriots’ coaching staff under their father. He left, however, with the elder Belichick after the 2023 season. Brian had survived the short-lived Jerod Mayo era, but he did not make the cut for Vrabel’s.
Brian Belichick is now expected to join his father and elder brother in North Carolina. As to who will replace him in New England, it still remains unclear.
Vrabel’s Reasons for Bringing Back Josh McDaniels
Josh McDaniels enjoyed unparalleled success during his first stint with the Patriots. From 2001 to 2008, McDaniels had risen through the coaching system and became New England’s offensive coordinator.
Vrabel’s time with the Patriots as a player coincided with McDaniels’ ascendance through the coaching ladder. In an interview with CBS, Vrabel highlighted the key reasons behind his choice to appoint the former Las Vegas Raiders head coach as his OC.
“When you talk about Josh, I just think schematically the way he teaches the quarterback, the versatility in the offense, and the base foundation of the offense,” Vrabel said.
“His growth, I think, in that offense, trying to put conflict on the defense in the way he structures a gameplan, in the way that he calls the gameplan.”