The New England Patriots earned the right to celebrate after punching their ticket to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California. By the sound of it, the team's head coach, Mike Vrabel, admittedly agrees with this sentiment.
A three-time champion as a player (with New England), Vrabel knows how hard it is to reach this point. He understood the Patriots were eager to bear the fruits of their labor after a hard-fought 10-7 AFC Championship Game victory over the Denver Broncos. We heard him promise his locker room they'd have time to relish the moment during a speech following the thrilling playoff win.
Patriots standout defensive tackle Milton Williams said that Vrabel gave the group free rein to hit the town in Denver — albeit with a catch
Milton Williams shares Mike Vrabel's iconic message to Patriots locker room after reaching Super Bowl
Williams told reporters that Vrabel said the Patriots have "no curfew" upon securing conference supremacy in Denver. However, the club begins trekking back to Foxborough early the next day, and there will be repercussions for anyone who isn't ready to go.
"No curfew tonight," Williams said (h/t Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein). "But the bus leaving at eight in the morning, so if you ain't on it, you ain't playing in the [Super Bowl]."
Any Patriot who parties too hard won't get to suit up in the Big Game. Test Vrabel at your own peril. Nevertheless, Williams emphasized that this was the message delivered to him and his New England comrades.
New England became the first squad in NFL history to go 9-0 on the road in a single season by prevailing in Denver. The Patriots also snapped a three-year playoff drought to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 2018. Vrabel, Williams and Co. have every reason to rejoice, just within reason!
Yet, Vrabel is ostensibly urging the Pats not to let go of the rope yet. They're still one win away from their ultimate goal of climbing the highest mountaintop. Now isn't the time to lose sight of the hard work and dedication that got them this far.
Up next for Vrabel's Patriots is a date with the Seattle Seahawks for a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.