When Robert Kraft decided to fire Bill Belichick after two decades and replace him with an inexperienced Jerod Mayo, there was some optimism that the younger coach would implement the much-needed changes from the previous era. His ability to relate to the players as a former player himself was expected to be a significant factor in how the Patriots would thrive moving forward, only for Mayo's overly relaxed style to become more of a detriment than a benefit.
It's part of the reason Kraft made the difficult decision to let Mayo go after just one season and bring in Mike Vrabel, another former Patriots player. The difference, however, was Vrabel's experience as a head coach with the Titans and his more Belichick-like mentality that the team desperately needed back.
Those changes were evident during OTAs and minicamp this spring and were welcomed by the players, who gushed over how much they enjoyed Vrabel's coaching. That has only become more apparent as the team heads into training camp this week, with more players giving glowing reviews of the new coaching staff.
Mike Vrabel's impact on the Patriots will prove to be a bigger deal than anyone could have imagined
The latest player to comment on Vrabel's coaching style is special teams ace Brenden Schooler, who seemed to take a slight dig at the previous regime while speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning.
Brenden Schooler: "Coach Vrabel brings a different vibe from the years previous. You're not scared, but you know he's not messing around."
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) July 22, 2025
Although he didn't name names, nor did he seem to put an emphasis only on last year's coaching staff, it's clear that the Mike Vrabel effect is more impactful than anyone could have projected when he was initially hired.
Hunter Henry also raved about Vrabel on Tuesday, sharing that he has been a great addition so far and loves being around him, on top of bringing some much-needed accountability to the locker room.
Hunter Henry on Mike Vrabel: "We all need accountability and he brings that every day."
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) July 22, 2025
It was believed he was the right person for the job and could easily lead the Patriots back to relevance, despite being fired from his previous position as a head coach. That continues to be proven accurate as the weeks pass by, and we'll finally get a real good look at just how impactful his presence will be throughout training camp and the preseason.