FOXBOROUGH — When the Titans cut Harold Landry in March, he already had an idea where he wanted to play.
The Patriots had hired Mike Vrabel, Landry’s coach of six seasons in Tennessee, which instantly made New England an attractive destination for the 28-year-old linebacker. Vrabel, who was in his first year on staff when the Titans drafted Landry in the second round in 2018, had played a pivotal role in his development as an effective edge rusher.
“Once I saw how things were going and the writing was on the wall, this was definitely a place I wanted to be,” Landry said Tuesday from Gillette Stadium. “I was getting excited about the staff [Vrabel] was putting together. I just feel like this was the right place for me.”
Two days after his release, and 17 hours before the NFL’s free agency negotiation period was set to open, Landry agreed to terms with the Patriots on a three-year, $43.5 million contract.
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
The deal made sense for both parties, reuniting Landry with a coach he trusts while providing Vrabel with a player whose skill set he knows well.
The Patriots also have Terrell Williams as defensive coordinator, Zak Kuhr as inside linebackers coach, Scott Booker as safeties coach, and Clinton McMillan as defensive line coach — all of whom previously coached in Tennessee with Vrabel.
“[Vrabel] knows how I operate,” Landry said. “I think, throughout my career, he and his staff have done a great job of putting me in position to go out and be productive and help the team. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
In 2021, the best statistical season of his career, Landry registered 12 sacks, 22 quarterback hits, and 75 tackles. He was on the field for 89.5 percent of Tennessee’s defensive snaps en route to his only Pro Bowl nod.
Landry missed the 2022 season because of a torn ACL, but returned to the field in 2023 with another strong showing. He logged 10½ sacks, 21 quarterback hits, and 70 tackles. Landry maintained his numbers last season (nine sacks, 71 tackles), his only without Vrabel, though questions emerged about his longevity.
At this stage in his career, Landry prides himself on his versatility and consistency. He hopes to serve as a Swiss army knife for the defense, able to play in multiple spots and win one-on-one matchups. Landry praised Vrabel and the coaching staff for their ability to diagnose and then maximize players’ skill sets.
“I feel like we have a very talented roster, especially on the defensive side of the ball,” Landry said. “I’m excited about the pieces and where they’re going to place people and what they’re going to do with all of us.”
More than anything, though, Landry highlighted the team’s hard-nosed approach. Some of the tenets Vrabel has emphasized include maintaining an upbeat attitude, treating the team with respect, playing with effort, finishing plays, and staying prepared.
“I think as long as we maintain our style of play that they’re trying to implement here — even if you might not have fit up a run gap perfectly or didn’t play with the greatest technique — that style of play is going to result in wins,” Landry said. “I feel like one of the main jobs for a head coach is to make sure your team is prepared situationally. All I know is that as long as I’ve played for Vrabes, there was never a situation I wasn’t prepared for.”
Landry is also familiar with the Massachusetts area, having played four seasons at Boston College. He met his wife, Dani, while he was a student. They already have driven through the campus and recently started looking at houses in the area.
******
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs will wear No. 8 . . . Landry, who left Boston College after the 2017 season, doesn’t have many local restaurants he’s hoping to return to, only shouting out two spots: Brookline’s FuGaKyu and a place that served 25-cent wings down the street from BC . . . Cornerback Marcus Jones is focused on learning a new defensive scheme but would be open to taking offensive snaps, as he did under both Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo. Said Jones, “If it happens, it happens.”
Nicole Yang can be reached at [email protected] her @nicolecyang.
