Vrabel wants to 'galvanize' Patriots in return to team
The New England Patriots were reintroduced to Mike Vrabel on Monday, with the new head coach emphasizing a return to the winning culture from his time as a player.
"It was clear to me in my soul that this is the place I wanted to be," Vrabel said. "I want to galvanize this football team, I want to galvanize this building, I want to galvanize our fans."
He added: "We're removing entitlement from our football team. ... We're gonna earn the right to be here every single day."
Vrabel was a Patriots linebacker from 2001 to 2008, winning three Super Bowls. He was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in 2023. The 49-year-old reportedly inked a multi-year deal to replace Jerod Mayo, who was fired Jan. 5 after going 4-13 in his first season as head coach.
Vrabel previously coached the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023. He was dismissed in January 2024 after going 6-11 in 2023 and then served as a coaching consultant for the Cleveland Browns in 2024.
Vrabel said his first roster priority is to bolster the offensive line to set up young quarterback Drake Maye for success.
"You look at the teams who are able to protect the quarterback and the flow of the game. We look at the front to be sound, to be strong," Vrabel said. "We want to develop (Maye) as leader of the offense. ... When a quarterback calls a play, you want to say that everyone believes you're gonna score a touchdown."
The Patriots were one of the league's weakest offenses under Mayo, ranking 31st in total yards per game and 30th in points per contest. Maye threw 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions across 13 games while being sacked 34 times.
Vrabel said having the "young, dynamic quarterback" was one of the main draws to New England, which he picked over other teams that interviewed him such as the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets.
"We want to be good enough to take advantage of bad football," Vrabel said. "The goal is to win the AFC East, host home playoff games, and win championships."
Vrabel and New England will have the fourth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The team also has over $120 million in cap space.