Mike Vrabel arrived in Foxboro with a plan, and it started with getting the right people, both in the front office and locker room.
On the personnel side, that meant saying goodbye to some core “Bill Belichick holdovers” like David Andrews, Ja'Whaun Bentley, Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, and Joe Cardona. With that being said, a large contingent of players from the Belichick and Jerod Mayo regimes made up the Patriots' training camp roster this summer; a number of those guys immediately carved out a role, while others fell into somewhat of a gray area.
One of the leaders of that “gray area” group was fifth-year edge defender Anfernee Jennings.
The Mayo regime signed Jennings, the Patriots’ third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, to a three-year rookie extension in the spring of 2024. But it was painfully obvious by the end of Vrabel’s first training camp that he wasn’t the best scheme fit. Jennings opened the season as a Week 1 healthy scratch, and became a fixture in trade rumors along with Dugger and fellow edge rusher Keion White.
Both Dugger and White were actually traded prior to this year’s deadline in exchange for modest draft capital, but not Jennings. He carved out a role on kickoffs, and went on to log more snaps on special teams this season than his previous two years combined.
Jennings has also seen an uptick in playing time on defense in recent weeks, quietly becoming one of the Patriots’ most reliable pass rushers since Week 17. His head coach definitely noticed. Vrabel recognized the 28-year-old in the best way during Friday’s final day of preparation for the AFC Championship Game.
Anfernee Jennings just went from healthy scratch to Patriots playoff captain
Vrabel likes to keep things light during the Patriots’ Friday team meetings, and that approach didn’t change this week, just a day before a flight to Denver for the franchise’s biggest game since Tom Brady was playing quarterback.
Rookie left tackle Will Campbell “volunteered” (at the request of his head coach) to be the team’s anchorman on Fridays, covering everything from the weather, to local community or player events on the schedule, to that day’s post-practice lunch spread. Vrabel told reporters this week that Campbell has been "improving" in that area for the team.
Another weekly Vrabel staple has been to name an honorary captain for each game — by showing that player’s high school highlight reel and letting the team guess who it is. According to Mark Daniiels of MassLive, Vrabel’s pick for the AFC title game was Jennings, a player who could soon become one of the team’s unsung heroes on the way to a Super Bowl.
Only one Patriots player was ruled out for the Denver game on Friday, and that was edge rusher Harold Landry. That means Jennings, who per Pro Football Focus has played 62 total snaps in these playoffs with six QB pressures, two sacks, and five run stuffs, will be in line for a pivotal role against backup Jarrett Stidham and the Broncos.
Chalk it up to another feel-good moment in a season full of them for the Patriots, as Jennings has been the epitome of the team-first culture Vrabel’s been working to instill. The best part? That highlight reel showed Jennings throwing a touchdown pass for Dadeville (Alabama) High School, leaving his teammates stumped (until they noticed Jennings’ reaction).
“It means a lot,” Jennings told Daniels. “Just put my head down and work and control what I can control. I’m trying to do my job and help the team win in any way I can. We’re at this point and it’s a blessing, but nothing changes. I still want to help my team win, put my best foot forward, go out and have fun with the guys.”
Vrabel added during his Friday presser that Jennings deserves to take the field as a captain on Sunday.
“He has a professionalism that he’s shown throughout this entire season. I appreciate it. I appreciate him taking advantage of his opportunities, playing physical, playing on special teams, finding a role, and so that was an easy pick for me this week.”