From the moment that Robert Kraft hired Mike Vrabel to be the next head coach of the New England Patriots, there were high expectations about who he would choose to make up his coaching staff after a rough season under Jerod Mayo. It was crucial that he brought in an experienced group to help get the team back on track, and it was clear he did just that.
One of the more prominent names Vrabel hired was Ryan Cowden, who began his scouting career with the Panthers in 2000. Since then, he has spent time with several teams in the NFL, rising to director of player personnel with the Titans in 2016, working alongside Vrabel at the start of his head coaching tenure.