The New England Patriots are in the Super Bowl. A triumph would be a historic sensation given the terrible previous season. It all started with the hiring of the head coach: Mike Vrabel.
by Mike Bootshagen
Four wins. 13 defeats. Last place in the AFC East. This was the New England Patriots’ record for the 2024 season.
With Drake Maye. With Kayshon Boutte. With Christian Gonzalez. With Hunter Henry. With Rhamondre Stevenson. But: without Mike Vrabel.
The head coach at the time, Jerod Mayo, followed in the footsteps of legend Bill Belichick, who himself had stumbled since the departure of Tom Brady. And so the former linebackers coach was fired again after the season.
For many it was premature, after all expectations were high given the high quality of the roster. But Vrabel was on the market after leaving the Tennessee Titans. An opportunity where owner Robert Kraft knew it was now or never.
Mayo left, Vrabel came. This move would change everything within a season and brought back the Patriots mentality as a former player under Belichick. Unsurprisingly, Vrabel is the favorite to win Coach of the Year after reaching the Super Bowl.
New England Patriots: “Magic” Mike Vrabel
Before the season, the bookmakers had given odds of +8000 for the Patriots to win the Super Bowl. After all, they were the fourth-worst team of the previous season. If the Pats actually win, it would be the second-largest Super Bowl upset in history in terms of betting odds. In first place are the 1999 St. Louis Rams (+15,000). The Patriots from 2001 are currently in second place (+6000).
That alone shows what dimensions the magic of the head coach must have. Vrabel found a talented but raw bunch in Foxborough. Together with the front office, he worked on the right things in no time.
The first, important change: a new offensive coordinator. Vrabel is a defensive man. The offense wasn’t going well, Maye was on his own, like previous quarterback Mac Jones. New ideas were needed. And a man who knows his stuff.
No one was better suited than Josh McDaniels, who burned his fingers as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. McDaniels’ return was a blessing for the team. The former Brady supporter took Maye’s development to a new level and honed his incredible talent.
In addition, Vrabel, who served as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns during his coaching break, brought in Ashton Grant. The young QB coach followed Vrabel’s call and was the up-and-coming Maye’s new trainer.
New England Patriots under Mike Vrabel: Mix of talent and veterans
Step number two, since the defense itself was already solid, was to bolster the offense. Tackle Will Campbell and other players were brought in for a more stable offensive line that had previously been disastrous. With Mack Hollins and Stefon Diggs, two experienced wide receivers were brought in who also served as mentors to young talents like Kayshon Boutte.
Although Stevenson was a good running back, they took TreVeyon Henderson in the second round of the draft after using the first pick for the O-line. The move proved to be one of the biggest steals of the year. He got off to a good start and decided some games.
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All of this relieved Maye so that he could take the next steps in a new offensive concept with a good mix of veterans and diamonds in the rough.
Defensively, the return of cornerback Gonzalez, who was out for a long time as a rookie, was important because Vrabel needed Brecher to work against the ball.
And the new coach also invested heavily in free agency. Defensive tackle Milton Williams and edge rusher Harold Landry III were game-changing transactions. Landry is a sack leader, Williams is a game changer despite various injuries.
The New England Patriots are more than just Drake Maye
Defensive coordinator Terrell Williams missed most of the season after suffering from cancer. The bad news meant even more pressure for Vrabel and the staff, who mastered it brilliantly. Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr stepped in and took over as defensive play-caller.
This achievement cannot be appreciated enough. After all, the defense is almost more important for the team than the possible MVP Maye.
The hype is understandable, but also too glorifying. With 14 fumbles he sets the league’s negative record. Without the defense’s back, this would hurt a lot more. But you have to forgive a second-year QB because he also delivers numerous highlight plays.
The simple game plan also helped to get on track. This cannot be dismissed out of hand. Nevertheless, they went into a difficult postseason in which the team mastered the hurdles excellently.
So the accusation of a purely weak game plan is wrong. The Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos, like the Pats, had their injuries and failures, but also had some of the strongest defenses in the league – and were all beaten.
The Patriots won every away game of the season (9-0) – something like that has never happened before!
Mike Vrabel: “Do Your Job”, but not without empathy
“Do Your Job” was the mantra under Belichick. Don’t talk, do it. Vrabel is influenced by this, but more empathetic. He also wants the job done. But he’s interested in the people behind it.
He is a “Players Coach”. After bleak years, his leadership style changed the entire mentality in the building. He has his own relationship with each individual. For example, the 50-year-old held a meeting in which players shared personal stories about home, heroes, heartbreak and hope. A concept that deepened the team feeling.
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Vrabel is active on the sidelines during games. Celebrates. Criticized. Emotionalized. It also gives you a bloody nose. You can tell he’s still a player at heart. A linebacker. He is one of them. And yet the boss.
This is extremely well received by the stars. Tight end Henry confirmed to “ESPN”: “Our coach is behind us. No matter what happens.” Receiver Diggs said after the win over the Broncos: “He’s perhaps the best coach I’ve ever had. His trust in us is huge. I owe him a lot.”
Mike Vrabel creates the new old Patriots
Last offseason, a third of the league was looking for a new head coach. The Patriots got Vrabel and found the perfect fit. He got some reinforcements, but also made a lot of what he found.
It was a process. Otherwise they wouldn’t have lost at the start of the season against what later became the weakest team in the league, the Raiders. Now we’re in the Super Bowl. And whether it is won or not does not detract from Vrabel’s achievement.
He is the first coach in history to turn a roster that had four wins the previous year into a team that had 14 wins in the regular season and sensationally reached the final in year one under his leadership. Vrabel changed the spirit. With old means. It’s the new old Patriots.
Die “New Old England Patriots”.
