On Jan. 12, New England Patriots Chairman, Robert Kraft made the decision to name Mike Vrabel the 16th head coach of the New England Patriots franchise ahead of the 2025 NFL season and many more going forward.
Mike Vrabel, 49, is no stranger to the NFL and the Patriots organization.
Joining the Patriots in 2001, Vrabel quickly established himself as a pivotal member of the team both on and off the field, contributing to three Super Bowl victories. (2001, 2003, 2004).
Prior to his eight-season stint in New England, Vrabel attended college at “THE” Ohio State University from 1993-1996. Foregoing his senior year, Vrabel entered the 1997 NFL draft where he was selected in the third round, 91st overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Playing four seasons under legendary head coach, Bill Cowher, Vrabel certainly picked up the character traits of discipline, hard-headed, determined, and the sheer will to want to win. It would be no surprise that those qualities caught the attention of defensive mastermind, and then Patriots head coach, Bill Belichick. Among many stars and standouts, Mike Vrabel etched his name among the greats who represented New England.
In his eight seasons in New England, Mike Vrabel recorded, 762 total tackles (485 solo & 221 assisted) 57.0 sacks, 11 interceptions, 19 forced fumbles, 10 catches for 14 yards, all resulting in touchdowns, 11 total touchdowns, 10 offensively, 1 defensively, selected to the 2007 Pro Bowl, named First-Team All-Pro in 2007, and of course, winning three Super Bowl titles in the early 2000’s. In 2009, Mike Vrabel would be traded to the Kansas City Chiefs where he would play out the remainder of his NFL career and officially retire in 2010.
However, Vrabel’s career around football was not stopping there. In 2011, Vrabel would return to his alma mater, Ohio State, and join the coaching staff as a linebackers coach. The following two seasons, Vrabel assumed the role of defensive-line coach.
In 2014, Mike Vrabel was back in the NFL, only this time contributing to the action from the sidelines. Vrabel took a job as the Houston Texans linebackers coach, and three years later in 2017, Vrabel would assume the position of defensive coordinator for the Texans.
One season later, the Tennessee Titans, a rival of the Texans would make Vrabel an offer he could not refuse, to be named the team’s next head coach. Without hesitating, the offer was accepted, and Mike Vrabel was an official NFL head coach.
In 2018, the Titans finished with a record of 9-7, however, the Vrabel Effect was in motion, and he had brought a new attitude and culture. Mike Vrabel even got the best of his former head coach, Bill Belichick.
In week 10 of 2018, the Titans and Mike Vrabel stomped Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots 34-10. At the time, some considered this a massive achievement, especially for a head coach in their first year. The following year, Tennessee was out for blood. Despite finishing with a 9-7 record again, Mike Vrabel and his players did not let that define who they were. Punching their ticket to the playoffs, their first opponent was none other than the New England Patriots. That wildcard weekend was filled with so many stories, so many narratives. The biggest headline was an unanswered question, “Will this be Tom Brady’s final game as a New England Patriot?”
While some experts were indecisive on who would win this game, the players all had one thought on their minds, to win the game. In a stunning twist of fate, the Titans entered Gillette Stadium as the underdogs and left the field as the victors. For Mike Vrabel, this was his first playoff victory as a head coach, one can only imagine how special it must have been for him to accomplish this feat on the same field where he became a household name.
As for New England, that final score of 20-13 was not the worst thing to come out of that game. That game was the final game Tom Brady would ever play for the New England Patriots, before departing for Tampa Bay later in March of 2020.
Mike Vrabel and the Titans did it again! The following week saw the Titans upset the number one seed, Baltimore Ravens 28-12, running back, Derrick Henry lead the way with 195 rushing yards and throwing a touchdown, no doubt a trick play drawn up by Mike Vrabel. Vrabel’s genius, game planning, and the way he had molded his team in a short span of time was astronomical. The Tennessee Titans were on a Cinderella run and had their sights set on football’s biggest prize. One more victory earned a trip to the Super Bowl, Unfortunately, the magical run came to an end in Kansas City- another former home of Mike Vrabel. Although Tennessee lost 35-24, the future looked bright, and Mike Vrabel had all but established himself as a legitimate head coach. In 2020, the Titans finished 11-5 and were eager to make another deep playoff run.
As quickly as the game began, the game ended. The Baltimore Ravens defeated Tennessee 20-13, getting revenge from the prior year.
In 2021, The Titans and Mike Vrabel took care of business in the regular season.
Winning 12 of their 17 games, they stood atop the standings, earning a first round BYE, and Mike Vrabel was named 2021 NFL AP Coach of The Year.
In one of the biggest upsets of the modern era, the Cincinatti Bengals came into Tennessee and pulled off a stunning upset, winning 19-16, sending Vrabel and the Titans packing much earlier than they would have liked.
During the next two seasons the Titans would finish with a combined record of 13 wins and 21 losses.
After a disappointing 2023 campaign, Mike Vrabel was let go by the Tennessee Titans, finishing with a resume of 54 wins, 45 losses, three consecutive playoff berths, two playoff victories, one AFC Championship appearance, 2021 Coach of the year, and earning first place in 2021.
Surprisingly, no team in need of a head coach reached out to Vrabel.
After the dust settled, the Cleveland Browns made Vrabel an offer to join the coaching staff.
For one season, Mike Vrabel was a part of the Cleveland Browns, representing his home state of Ohio. Vrabel served as the Coaching and personnel consultant.
His personality, attitude, and leadership helped him quickly bond with the players and formed a lot of friendships.
One season later, in a moment of destiny, the New England Patriots were in need of a head coach after going 4-13 with rookie head coach, Jerod Mayo.
It seemed like all the stars were aligning and in January of 2025, Robert Kraft conducted an interview with Mike Vrabel to be named the franchise’s next head coach.
The process took a few days to complete as New England was scheduled to interview other candidates, but there was a sense around the league that it was always going to ultimately be Mike Vrabel.
Now, presently, Mike Vrabel has been the Head Coach of the New England Patriota for a little under three months.
In that time frame, Vrabel made all the hirings he saw fit to this organization and would put the franchise in the right direction to win immediately.
The past two seasons, New England has won a combined 8 games, with a staggering 26 losses.
Given their current situation, especially financially, they have all the money to make a big splash to upgrade their roster and are picking fairly early in the upcoming NFL Draft, giving them the opportunity to select some of the best players available. Chairman, Robert Kraft is very adamant, he wants to win.
Despite the current situation New England has been in for the past five seasons with one winning season, if any head coach can take on a difficult task, able to quickly turn the ship around and turn a laughingstock of a franchise into a dominant powerhouse, if any head coach can build and establish a culture filled with, ruthless aggression, grit, determination, discipline, and the attitude of “It is not over until I win” it is Mike Vrabel.
The Organization, fanbase, and the NFL world should be excited and on the edge of their seats to see what Mike Vrabel can truly do and his capabilities to bring dominance back to New England and make the New England Patriots championship contenders once again.
