Patriots’ Mike Vrabel Gets ‘Real’ About Bill Belichick Relationship

Mike Vrabel played eight seasons under Bill Belichick and won three Super Bowl titles during his run with the New England Patriots.

That experience of watching the best of the best pilot New England’s dynasty granted Vrabel a front-row seat years before the 49-year-old made the transition from player to coach. Still, Vrabel wanted to clarify his relationship with Belichick as it relates to the modern-day state of the Patriots at his introductory press conference.

“Let’s just be real for a minute and just say having played for him and having competed against him, and also having a friendship with Bill along the way, I think it’s special. It’s unique having played here — knowing Bill,” Vrabel told reporters Monday, per team-provided video. “But again, we have to focus on things that are gonna help us win now, help our players, and like, I said galvanize the building and the fanbase. So, I think that there’s also things — and I’m gonna try to explain to the players — that there’s things that are interesting and there’s things that are important. I think me having played for Bill is interesting, I just don’t know if it’s important to helping our players.”

Vrabel takes over in command following Jerod Mayo’s lone season as head coach, tasked with re-directing the franchise back to greener pastures.

The Patriots recorded an identical 4-13, last-place finish in the AFC East to their 2023 campaign before Mayo was hired. Minimal improvements and reasons for optimism were demonstrated on the field and in the front office, prompting yet another reset and allowing Vrabel to return 16 years after leaving Foxborough as a player.

This time, the franchise is unlike anything Vrabel experienced in a Patriots uniform.

Mayo’s departure was an ugly split, with fans pelting the ex-Patriots linebacker — and former teammate of Vrabel’s — with “Fire Mayo” chants at Gillette Stadium, not too long before New England’s higher-ups granted the fanbase its wishes.

Saying goodbye to Mayo and welcoming Vrabel back with open arms, however, is just the start for the Patriots this offseason.

Nevertheless, Vrabel envisions a fresh start coming with next season’s clean slate, for everyone involved in the organization.

“It’s gonna be all different players, new players, new coaches, some coaches that have remained and people remember that,” Vrabel said, per team-provided video. “There are gonna be some things. I’m not Bill (Belichick) 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. But to say what those are gonna look like, hopefully, it’s 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 gonna take.”

Vrabel added: “That’s gonna be the expectations and we’re gonna work like crazy, and we’re gonna compete like crazy.”

New England’s last AFC-winning season, under Belichick and then-quarterback Tom Brady, came to an early end in the wild card round against the Vrabel-led Tennessee Titans in 2020 at Gillette Stadium.