The Mike Vrabel era officially began Monday in New England, and during his introductory press conference, the Patriots’ new head coach — and their former linebacker who won three Super Bowls with the franchise — said that each player is going to get a chance to “start over” after the change.
“We’re gonna earn the right to be here every day,” Vrabel said. “We’re gonna remove enтιтlement from our football team. We’re gonna get everything that we’ve earned, from the head coach to the position coaches, all the way down to the players. We’re gonna earn the right to be here every single day.”
Vrabel, who worked with the Browns as a consultant this year after the тιтans fired him following the 2023 campaign, was hired once the Patriots canned Jerod Mayo — their hand-picked Bill Belichick successor — after just one season and a 4-13 record.
He also interviewed with the Jets and Bears, but once the Patriots’ job opened, Vrabel immediately emerged as the favorite given his eight-year run with the team and contributions — marginal compared to others, but still a role — in their dynasty.
“I want to galvanize our football team,” Vrabel said in his introductory press conference. “I want to galvanize this building. I want to galvanize our fans. The most important thing are the players. There are some of them right here. I want to provide a program that provides their ownership but also their accountability of each other and one they’ll be proud to be a part of and that they’re gonna fight for.”
Across six seasons in Tennessee, Vrabel guided the тιтans to a 54-45 record and clinched the AFC’s top seed in 2021.
His second chance as a head coach, though, includes a franchise quarterback already on the roster, with Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, impressing as a rookie and flashing the potential to eventually become the answer the Patriots have searched for at the position since Tom Brady departed in free agency five years ago.
They still need to hire an offensive coordinator, but across 12 starts and 13 games, Maye threw for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Vrabel, when addressing reporters Monday, said that Maye’s presence influenced his decision to take the job.
“I think he’s young, talented, willing to learn,” Vrabel said on “SportsCenter.”
“I think there’s a toughness to him. There’s an amazing skillset in which to mold and to have him lead our football team and lead our offense.”
