For 21 years, legendary New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick had a trusted right-hand man, officially titled “Director of Football Research.” This individual, Ernie Adams, provided close counsel on everything from in-game decisions to roster building. Often, when TV cameras showed Belichick on the sidelines with his headset, it was Adams’ voice he was hearing.
Now, according to an announcement on Thursday by Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, the Patriots’ new head coach, Mike Vrabel, has found his version of Ernie Adams. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport referred to this person as “his Ernie Adams.”
McVay admitted the announcement left him heartbroken, as less than a year earlier, on February 14, 2024, he had hired John Streicher—nicknamed “Stretch”—to the role of “coordinator of football strategy.”
Streicher: Using NFL Rules to Team’s Advantage
McVay praised Streicher for enhancing the Rams’ overall game management and strategic decision-making, particularly in areas like timeout usage and coach’s challenges. So when McVay announced that Streicher would be leaving Los Angeles for Foxborough, Massachusetts, after just one season, he jokingly admitted that Streicher “broke his heart.”
“He has a natural grasp of the rules and how to leverage them, along with clock management and various situational strategies,” McVay said about Streicher last year. “He’s contributed in many ways during his time in Tennessee.”
It wasn’t surprising, however, that Vrabel decided to bring Streicher to New England. The two previously worked together during Vrabel’s six years as head coach of the Tennessee Titans, where Streicher served as “director of football administration” and played a key advisory role.
“Just as Bill Belichick had Ernie Adams to assist with game management, Vrabel relied on John Streicher in a similar capacity with the Titans,” wrote ESPN Patriots reporter Mike Reiss before Streicher’s hiring was announced. “Now, Streicher is expected to join Vrabel in New England. Like Vrabel, Streicher is an Ohio State alumnus and spent the 2024 season with the Rams.”
Vrabel and Streicher Collaborated With Tennessee Titans
Streicher is 35 years old, while Vrabel will turn 50 in August 2025, just before the NFL season kicks off. Vrabel was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round (91st overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft after playing college football at Ohio State.
Streicher, an Ohio State graduate, earned his degree in 2012 and completed a Master’s in organizational leadership in 2014. During his Master’s studies, he served as a student assistant coach for the Buckeyes football team, as noted on his LinkedIn profile.
How does Streicher contribute to Vrabel’s success? NBC Sports Boston reporter Darren Hartwell provided a significant example.
“With Streicher by his side, Vrabel was regarded as an excellent game manager during his time with the Titans, showing a Belichick-like knack for exploiting the rules to his advantage,” Hartwell explained. “One of the most notable instances occurred in the 2019 AFC Wild Card Round, when the Titans upset the Patriots. In the fourth quarter, Vrabel — with input from Streicher — managed to drain nearly two minutes off the clock without running a play. He achieved this by intentionally taking a delay of game penalty and a false start during a punt situation.”
Be the first to comment