Mike Vrabel continues to build his Patriots staff, and a pair of interesting names have emerged on Monday as that process continues. Thomas Brown is the latest coach to head to New England. 
Brown is being brought in, Mark Daniels of MassLive reports. He held three different titles during his time with the Bears this past season, including of course interim offensive coordinator and later interim head coach. It was already known he would not return to Chicago, but he has not needed to wait long to find his next opportunity.
Daniels’ report did not specify what Brown’s role will be in New England, but Tom Pelissero of NFL Network clarifies he will work as the Patriots’ tight ends coach and passing game coordinator. That is roughly in line with where Brown stood with the Bears at the start of the 2024 campaign, one in which Shane Waldron was fired midseason. Brown took over as Chicago’s play-caller, eventually earning another promotion when head coach Matt Eberflus was dismissed.
That left the 38-year-old in an interesting position at the onset of the hiring cycle. Brown interviewed with the Bears for the full-time HC gig, but as expected the team made a strong (and successful) push to hire Ben Johnson away from the Lions. Considering Brown met with the Patriots for their offensive coordinator position, though, this news comes as little surprise.
Vrabel and the Patriots reunited with Josh McDaniels to serve (once again) as offensive coordinator for 2025. Brown will have a role on the new-look staff, working closely with a tight ends room led by Hunter Henry. The veteran set a new career high in catches and yards in 2024, and he will be counted on to remain a key contributor on offense moving forward. It will be interesting to see how Brown fares in rebuilding his stock over the course of his Patriots tenure.
Prior to the news of Brown’s hire on Monday, it was learned Doug Marrone will be joining the Patriots’ staff as well. ESPN’s Mike Reiss notes Marrone’s title is uncertain at this point, but his experience working on the offensive line suggests he could be heavily involved with a unit in need of significantly improved play moving forward. Marrone’s NFL coaching career has included seven years as a head coach (five in Jacksonville, two in Buffalo) as well as an offensive coordinator stint in New Orleans. McDaniels will certainly have a veteran presence on his latest Patriots staff.
Marrone spent the 2024 campaign at Boston College working as a senior analyst for football strategy, so a role along those lines could also be in play. In any event, his addition – along with that of Brown – adds to the number of notable staffers in place under Vrabel for 2025.