Mike Vrabel Doesn’t Care About Patriots Finishing with an Awful 4–13 Record Last Season

Mike Vrabel intends to start afresh, and help the Patriots re-create a new identity without focus on the past.

Mike Vrabel Doesn’t Care About Patriots Finishing with an Awful 4–13 Record Last Season

Mike Vrabel (Image via AP)

The New England Patriots have been in a freefall from the peak since the departure of Tom Brady. In the past three years, the team parted ways with Bill Belichick, then Jerod Mayo, and now all eyes are on Mike Vrabel as he takes over the head coaching job.

The former linebacker for the Patriots is no new-comer to the team’s ways. Having played there in his prime, he understands how to get things done.

This time, however, Vrabel will be in a different position, as he will not have Brady or Belichick alongside him. When a new person takes over as a head coach of an unsuccessful team, they usually spend time attempting to figure out the mistakes of their predecessors to ensure they do not repeat the same.

However, Mike Vrabel is not going down that road. His strategy does not involve rectifying Jerody Mayo’s shortcomings but involves starting afresh, and building the team’s identity from scratch. As reported by Pro Football Talk, in a recent team meeting, Vrabel has made his focus clear. It is to do things the right way in the present, and move on from the past.

Somebody asked me, ‘Are you worried what went wrong last year? Why…would I care about what happened last year? I’m worried about what’s going to go right today and tomorrow, and the next day. We’re not worried about what went wrong. We’re focused on what’s going to go right, and I want you to understand that.

Mike Vrabel said via New England Patriots’ YouTube channel

This is an interesting approach, primarily because the Patriots have reverted to past players to succeed Belichick. The assumption has been that the team went down this road to stick with the iconic ‘Patriot way.’ While Belichick was no longer able to achieve as much success with his methodology, owner Robert Kraft wanted to give one of his students the opportunity to come in with an updated version of the Patriot way, and do things differently.

Mike Vrabel has made significant updates to the Patriots roster

There is valid reason for New England’s fanbase to be excited about this season. With the additions of Stefon Diggs, rookies TreVeyon Henderson, and Kyle Williams, Vrabel has built a respectable roster. Now, the only thing left is to see how well he can put these pieces to use.

Mike Vrabel (
Mike Vrabel (Image via Sports Illustrated)

Vrabel has achieved immense success as a head coach, this is not his first rodeo in that position. As the HC of the Tennessee Titans, he had a record of 54-45, and a postseason record of 2-3. Despite his shortcomings, he has shown that he is capable of leading a team into the playoffs.

Since the Titans fired him, Vrabel has been vying to get back into the driver’s seat of a franchise, and here is his second chance to get it done. He has taken on a Herculean task, attempting to drive the greatest franchise in NFL history back into glory after three seasons over which the Patriots managed to secure just 16 wins.

Apart from doing his job, Vrabel has been actively engaging with the community. As the Patriots’ new facility continues to take shape, there was a topping off ceremony held to mark the final steel beam being put into place. The ceremony was attended by Robert Kraft, Drake Maye, Christian Gonzalez, and Mike Vrabel. At the event, the HC lauded the efforts put in by the construction workers from dawn to dusk. New England’s training facility is expected to be ready by spring of 2026.

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