For decades, nobody really knew what former New England Patriots “Football Research Director” Ernie Adams actually did for the greatest dynasty in sports history. All we know is that Adams played a pivotal role as Bill Belichick’s childhood right-hand man, first leaving Wall Street to join Belichick’s staff with the Cleveland Browns in 1991, and eventually following him to Foxboro.
Adams’ name quickly disappeared into Patriots folklore, mentioned only in passing or among diehard fans around a backyard fire pit following his retirement in 2021. That’s until this summer, with the arrival of new head coach Mike Vrabel and a staff that includes a shadow partner who sounds a little too familiar.
As we learned over Belichick’s 24 seasons in Foxboro, a coach is only as good as the people around him. And while it could take years for Vrabel to turn over the mishandled roster left over from the Belichick and Jerod Mayo regimes, New England’s secret weapon for 2025 could be its new game management coordinator — Vrabel’s right-hand man, who’s among the NFL’s most respected coaches that fans have never heard of.
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel brought his own version of Ernie Adams to Foxboro this offseason
Back in January, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters that John “Stretch” Streicher broke his heart by leaving his staff to reunite with Vrabel in New England this offseason.
McVay likes to keep things light with the media, but he was only half-joking on this one.
As ESPN’s Peter Schrager put it on a recent episode of the Pat McAfee Show, Vrabel has been lauded around the league for his situational awareness and analytically sound decision-making on the sideline. But it’s important to note the man upstairs with a direct line to Vrabel’s ear — and that’s been Streicher, dating back to their tenure together in Tennessee.
"The secret weapon in New England this season is a guy named 'Stretch'. He's Ernie Adams for the Gen Z crowd."
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) August 21, 2025
From @PatMcAfeeShow show. Many thanks @damienwoody as always. pic.twitter.com/VBtfP8y8Ll
“A name to watch is Stretch,” Schrager said. “John Streicher is the game management coach that followed Vrabel from Tennessee, went to the Rams for a year, and now is in New England. There’s thoughts around the league about who’s the best offensive coach, who’s the best defensive coach. To a man, everyone says: ‘No one knows clock management, game management, down and distance, better than Vrabel. Vrabel’s on it.’ And this is his Ernie Adams. ... He's Ernie Adams for the Gen Z crowd.”
The expectations surrounding the 2025 Patriots have been all over the map. Most fans believe that a more competent coaching staff, coupled with a cupcake schedule, could be enough to get New England to double-digit wins, and that's clearly far from a stretch.