Bill Belichick’s real feelings about Mike Vrabel getting Patriots head coaching job revealed
Former Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel is the sixteenth head coach in the the Patriots’ history.
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Mike Vrabel, Bill Belichick (Images via Imago/ESPN)
The New England Patriots have appointed a new head coach, marking their third change in leadership in as many years. On Sunday, team owner Robert Kraft announced that former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel will take the helm, succeeding fellow ex-linebacker Jerod Mayo. Mayo was dismissed after just one season following a 4-13 record.
New Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has the endorsement of former longtime coach Bill Belichick. Speaking on the “Pat McAfee Show,” Belichick expressed his admiration for Vrabel, reflecting on the eight years he spent coaching him in New England and the competitive experience of facing him when Vrabel led the Tennessee Titans.
In the interview, Belichick admitted that Vrabel is a great coach capable of doing a great job. He went on to praise his skills which he acknowledged that Vrabel possessed while he was a player as well,
I have a ton of respect for Mike, I think he does a great job, he prepares his teams well, they’re very good in situational football, they’re tough, they’re competitive, they’re smart, just as he was as a player, love Mike, I love everything that he stands for as a football coach. I have a lot of respect for him. I’m sure he’ll do a great job.
Bill Belichick said
After parting ways with Bill Belichick, Patriots owner Robert Kraft turned to one of his protégés, Jerod Mayo, but that partnership proved unsuccessful. Despite the setback, Kraft once again looked to a Belichick disciple, this time choosing Mike Vrabel — a former player under Belichick who also brings the experience of coaching against him and earning victories.
The Patriots have failed to find a rhythm since parting ways with Bill Belichick. The 72-year-old led the Patriots to six championships with champion quarterback Tom Brady. The Brady and Belichick era is often regarded as one of the best coach-quarterback eras in history.
Mike Vrabel wants to avoid comparisons to Bill Belichick
Mike Vrabel made his name when he was a player. After four years in Pennsylvania on the sidelines, Vrabel got his breakthrough with the Patriots, where he played from 2001 through 2008. He won three Super Bowls and retired before Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
As a coach, he led the Titans to three postseasons including a run into the AFC Championship Game which they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. However, he didn’t have similar success in his last years leading to his dismissal.
In his first media availability since assuming the position of their head coach, Vrabel ensured that he wants to be known and judged for his caliber without any comparisons to Bill Belichick or Bill Cowher.
I’m not Bill, and I’m not Bill Cowher, I’m not anyone other than me. I’ve taken those experiences, and I’ve tried to form what I believe is critical to the success of a football team and an organization. To say what those are going to look like, hopefully just as successful. And our goals will be to win the AFC East, to host home playoff games, and to compete for championships. That’s what it’s going to take.
Mike Vrabel said
In the last six seasons, The New England Patriots made the postseason only twice. Both of their campaigns ended in Divisional playoffs, the first in 2019 where Mike Vrabel led the Tennessee Titans to a victory over the Patriots, and the second in 2021. Their last postseason victory was the Super Bowl win in 2018 glory against the Los Angeles Rams in Georgia.
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Mohammed Bazim
(405 Articles Published)