The New England Patriots are "expected to pursue" Mike Vrabel as the team's next head coach after firing Jerod Mayo on Sunday, according to Chad Graff and RJ Kraft of The Athletic.

Vrabel previously served as head coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2018-23 and he also played for the Patriots as a linebacker in eight seasons from 2001-08.

He's "been interested" in New England's potential vacancy "in recent weeks" and already has "quality assistants" that would be prepared to join him, per Jeff Howe of The Athletic.

Mayo was fired on Sunday after the Patriots finished with a 4-13 record in his first year as head coach.

Mayo's exit is surprising, as NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport reported on Dec. 28 that he'd be given a second season with the team "barring some type of calamity over the final two games" of the year.

While the Patriots suffered an ugly 40-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17, they ended the regular season with a 23-16 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

Still, interest in Vrabel during the current hiring cycle has been rampant and New England may not have been willing to watch him join another team.

He interviewed with the New York Jets regarding the team's current vacancy and has also been linked to the Dallas Cowboys as well as the Las Vegas Raiders. ESPN's Adam Schefter previously reported that the New Orleans Saints could show interest in him as well.

Vrabel might've had his sights set on New England all along, as CBS Sports' Aditi Kinkhabwala revealed on Sunday that his meeting with the Jets was to "put pressure" on the Patriots to make a move.

The 49-year-old spent the 2024 season as a coaching and personnel consultant for the Cleveland Browns after ending his Titans tenure with a 54-45 record. Tennessee made three trips to the playoffs in his six seasons with the team.

After Mayo was let go at the conclusion of the regular season, New England appears to be eyeing Vrabel as his replacement.