Mike Vrabel will be tasked with trying to turn the New England Patriots around and get them back to their winning ways as their new coach.
While his time with the Tennessee Titans came to an end after they missed the playoffs for a second straight year and finished 6-11, Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski believe he’s the right guy for the job for a slew of reasons.
“He’s played on every phase of the game at a high level, in an important game,” Edelman said during a recent episode of the “Dudes on Dudes” podcast. “He’s been a teamer, so when he’s addressing the team and he’s watching … the film or having a highlight thing that he’s probably presenting the team, he can break down guy for guy because he’s done it at the pro level, on defense. He knows everything about defense, because he basically was in the school of doctorates on the defense, through (Bill) Belichick, learning through him. And then actually being on the field and experiencing it is another way he gets to coach guys.
“… He can break down the whole game, and he’s a masculine figure that’s gonna make you do it, right?,” he continued. “And if you don’t, he’s gonna mother(expletive) you and get rid of you. He’s gonna make people accountable. That’s how it was. The Patriot Way was developed through these guys.”
Vrabel never coached on Belichick’s staff, but he clearly learned a lot from him not just from his playing days, but observing his coaching ways while he was with Tennessee.
Gronkowski brought up the 2019 AFC Wild Card game between the Patriots and the Titans when Vrabel’s team intentionally took a delay of game penalty in fourth quarter with Tennessee clinging to a 14-13 lead. While the penalty cost them five yards, the penalty shaved 45 seconds off the clock and kept Tom Brady off the field a little longer.
“I mean, he kind of outplayed Belichick in that situation, because Belichick was the master of knowing the rules inside and out and using that to his advantage,” Gronkowski said. “And this is a time when Vrabel used it to his advantage, and it was against the mastermind coach Belichick.”
The Titans went on to beat the Patriots in what was Brady’s final game in New England.
Vrabel has been busy filling out his staff. He brought in Josh McDaniels — who returns to New England for a third time — as the offensive coordinator, Thomas Brown will also join the Patriots, as will Doug Marrone and Jason Houghtaling.
The Patriots hold the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and need to address several areas including the offensive line and receivers. It’s unclear how New England will utilize the pick, but it will be another step in Vrabel helping rebuild the six-time Super Bowl champions.
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