Patriots have ‘home run’ hire in mind to replace Bill Belichick

Whenever the Patriots move on from Bill Belichick, owner Robert Kraft already had his successor in mind.

“Two sources close to the Patriots have independently said the same thing: They believe [Mike] Vrabel, currently the Titans’ coach, is the Krafts’ ‘home run’ choice to succeed Belichick,” the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin reported Friday.

There is increasing chatter that Belichick could be on his way out from the Patriots and — at the bare minimum — his seat is getting hotter.

Sunday’s 20-17 home loss to a Commanders team that just traded away two of its best defensive players — Montez Sweat and Chase Young — did not help the cause and left the Patriots with a 2-7 record.

In an ironic twist, those same Commanders reportedly would be interested in hiring Belichick should he become available.

Belichick reportedly signed a “lucrative extension” earlier this year, but the Patriots are on the downturn and have struggled in the post-Tom Brady era.

Firing Belichick would hurt Kraft’s wallet, but there are reportedly fractures in the Kraft-Belichick relationship.

Vrabel would certainly make sense to follow Belichick as he’s a Patriots legend, but he is under contract with the Titans and would cost assets to acquire until said contract expires.

The Titans extended Vrabel’s contract in 2022 “for years to come,” according to a statement from owner Amy Adams Strunk in the press release.

Tennessee (3-5) may be willing to let Vrabel go as they appear to be in the early stages of their own rebuild.

The Titans made the playoffs three times from 2019-21 and served as the AFC’s No. 1 seed in 2021, but are headed toward a second straight season without a playoff berth.

Vrabel has close ties to the Patriots since he played for New England from 2001-08, winning three Super Bowls in that time.

He recently journeyed to Foxborough during the Titans’ bye week to be inducted into the Patriots’ Hall of Fame.

Belichick exiting would also open a spot in the front office and Volin reported the Patriots’ “home run” move in that realm would be to bring back Nick Caserio, who is now the Texans’ general manager.

However, the Texans seem like they are on the right path with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and first-year coach DeMeco Ryans.

The Patriots look to end their two-game losing streak Sunday in Germany vs. the Colts.