Patriots, Mike Vrabel Could Make Another Titans Reunion Happen
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel first built his head coaching success with the Tennessee Titans, and he could land a second former star player of his this offseason.
As Bleacher Report's Moe Moton highlighted, Vrabel already has former Titans star wide receiver A.J. Brown on the roster. Moton proposes that former Titans tight end and free agent Jonnu Smith could be next to fill another need on the Patriots roster. Smith notably played for the Patriots between 2021 and 2022 before Vrabel's tenure.
Brown came on board in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, and that will alleviate the loss of Stefon Diggs, which gives the Patriots another go-to receiver. The tight end room also has some depth issues, as Moton pointed out.
"Patriots’ backup tight end Julian Hill suffered a knee injury that will sideline him for the 2026 season," Moton wrote. "New England can add Smith while the coaching staff develops rookie third-rounder Eli Raridon as the future at the position."
"Smith would be a more dynamic secondary tight end than Austin Hooper, who caught 21 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns with the team last year," Moton added. "The Patriots can pair him with Hunter Henry to field a more productive pass-catching tight end duo in 2026."
Vrabel knows well what Smith can do from their time together in Nashville between 2018 and 2022. Smith, who also played in 2017 for the Titans, had 114 receptions for 1,302 yards and 16 touchdowns in four years with the franchise.
As Moton described, Smith is only two years removed from a Pro Bowl year with the Miami Dolphins in 2024. Smith had 88 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns, and it isn't unreasonable to think Smith could do more of the same in New England.
He spent the 2025 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Moton qualified that it was a "crowded tight end room," which impacted Smith's opportunities.
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This story was originally published June 29, 2026 at 3:57 PM.