Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel Reportedly 'Warned' Team After Winning AFC Championship
The New England Patriots are marching on to Super Bowl LX after outlasting the Denver Broncos in the snow Sunday afternoon. New England's 10-7 victory clinched the franchise's first trip to the big game in seven years.
In just one season as head coach, Mike Vrabel has helped engineer a remarkable turnaround. In the aftermath of yesterday's win, Vrabel reportedly had one "warning" for his players.
Miss the bus, miss the game
Because of Winter Storm Fern, New England had to stay the night in Denver Sunday before flying home Monday.
Vrabel obviously knew his players were going to do some celebrating, but informed them of his lone rule before they left the locker room.
"No curfew tonight," Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams told reporters. "But the bus leaving at eight in the morning, so if you ain't on it, you ain't playing in the [Super] Bowl. So I'm pretty sure everybody's gonna be on that bus."
Mike Vrabel's message to his team after punching a ticket to the Super Bowl:
— Nicole Menner (@NicoleMenner) January 26, 2026
"No curfew tonight, but the bus leaving at 8 in the morning so if you ain't on it, you ain't playing in the bowl." pic.twitter.com/Rq1Z5yudHa
Vrabel won multiple Super Bowls as a player in New England under the guidance of Bill Belichick, a legendary disciplinarian.
We're guessing Vrabel is pretty buttoned up himself most of the time, but he clearly knows he can trust his guys here.
The Patriots are back -- and they weren't gone that long
Any NFL fans who thought New England was going to have a long winter following the departure of Tom Brady and the deterioration of the Belichick regime was sorely mistaken.
The arrival of quarterback Drake Maye in 2024 and Vrabel this year has helped accelerate the Patriots' rebuild. After four losing seasons and only one playoff berth between 2020-24, they are back on football's grandest stage.
Vrabel is now the eighth head coach to take a team to the Super Bowl in his first season. Four of the previous seven--the Broncos' Gary Kubiak (2015), the Buccaneers' Jon Gruden (2002), the 49ers' George Seifert (1989) and the Colts' Don McCafferty (1970) won it all.
The Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will face off in Super Bowl LX from Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Sunday, February 8. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC.