Since deciding to fire Bill Belichick as the head coach of the New England Patriots two years ago, owner Robert Kraft has made it clear that his main goal is to see his team win Super Bowls again and regain the top spot in the NFL, like they had sat comfortably for 20 years.
That's why Jerod Mayo was let go after just one season, and why Mike Vrabel became the next head coach. His experience in the role from his time with the Titans, along with his understanding of the Patriots' culture, made him the perfect real successor to the greatest coach of all time, which has now led New England back to the Championship.
It was a goal that Vrabel shared in his introductory press conference last January, and while many assumed the Patriots were far from being contenders in 2025, his vision was set in motion, and the players bought in.
Coach Vrabes followed through 🫡 #NEPats #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/0gW1cEq0yG
— Sara Marshall (@smarshxo) January 27, 2026
They're seeing the quick payoff of what their head coach wanted to accomplish in his new role, and it's a promise that Patriots' fans can't help but reflect on as the Super Bowl nears.
Mike Vrabel continues to prove he was the right guy to lead the Patriots back to success
What had been considered a multi-year commitment has become all that Vrabel and the Patriots could have dreamt of in 2025.
The main goal was likely to win more games than they had over the last two years, which they accomplished early in the season. That would have been sufficient in the eyes of many, as it proved they were on the right path.
Instead, they only continued to win, stole the AFC East crown from the Bills, and are now representing the conference in the Super Bowl.
That far exceeds anyone's expectations for Vrabel and his staff in Year 1 and is another example that Robert Kraft should have hired him in the first place, rather than promoting Jerod Mayo too early.
Regardless, that's all in the past now, and the Super Bowl is their next stop. The fact that they made it there feels good enough, but winning it all would make the 2025 season the greatest turnaround in NFL history, the greatest way to end an incredible year.