Kelly and Vrabel also have history. They both served as members of Bill O’Brien’s staff with the Houston Texans. Kelly rose up the ranks to offensive coordinator there and survived O’Brien’s firing but not David Culley’s a year later. Vrabel hired him in Tennessee, where he served as passing game coordinator in 2022 and OC in 2023.

Rees just finished his second season in the NFL. He joined the Browns last offseason as a pass game specialist and tight ends coach under new coordinator Ken Dorsey. That followed one year as the offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama and three seasons working in the same position at Notre Dame.

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is beginning to build the coaching staff. While there’s no clear timeline for finalizing the staff, Vrabel did indicate that former longtime Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was on his list of candidates.