Mike Vrabel has assembled a very capable NFL staff to assist him in 20205. It starts with his two coordinators. He enlisted the services of former long-time Patriots' Offensive Coordinator, Josh McDaniels, as his OC and also landed a former assistant of his in Tennessee, Terrell Williams, to run the defense.
These are two rock-solid coordinators with top-notch NFL experience to bring to bear for the team in 2025. McDaniels, though a flop as Head Coach, has top credentials to manage an offense. He did so brilliantly with Tom Brady for years in Foxborough and did OK with Matt Cassel and Mac Jones as well. His OC coaching credibility is unquestionable.
Similarly, Defensive Coordinator Terrell Williams has a solid background. He served ultimately as Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach for Vrabel in Tennessee, and more recently served as the Detroit Lions' defensive line coach and run game coordinator for their top 2024 season. He'll be in lock-step with Vrabel on his defense for certain.
Nonetheless, they're being questioned in the national media.
ESPN disses the Patriots' coaching staff despite stellar additions
The Patriots are the NFL's equivalent of Rodney Dangerfield, the great comedian. They "don't get no respect, no respect at all". Having to grudgingly acknowledge that Mike Vrabel's first offseason in Foxborough was brilliant, they now can default to calling into question both Vrabel and his top coaching assistants.
ESPN's Ben Solak has ranked the NFL's Head Coaches and coordinators for 2025. Predictably, the Patriots, Mike Vrabel, and his staff are being overlooked. He ranked Vrabel and his two coordinators 20th in the league.
"Vrabel is a good head coach who will quickly return competency to the head position in New England. That is as clear as day. However, I think some estimations of the impact he had in Tennessee -- and will have in New England -- have overreached...Just as Vrabel is definitely good, I'm very confident that McDaniels is capable of coordinating a good offense...His head coaching stints have been perilous, but I am confident competency will return to the offensive approach in New England, which was toothless last season despite a strong rookie season from quarterback Drake Maye."
What is it about former "Coach of the Year" Vrabel, multiple Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, and close Vrabel Tennessee defensive assistant and Assistant Head Coach, Terrell Williams, that isn't registering here?
Mike Vrabel, his staff, and his team will shock the NFL in 2025
Not only has Mike Vrabel landed two rock-solid coordinators for his first season in Foxborough, but he's also given them loads of tools to work with to help make them successful. Vrabel knows that playmakers and big plays win games, and he's loaded up on them this offseason. This includes former multi-Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs, who's also been dissed in the media.
In one of the Patriots' best offseasons in decades, Vrabel aced every aspect from free agency to the draft to undrafted free agency. It was a masterful reconstruction of a terrible roster into one that will make a lot of noise both in the AFC East and generally. And finally, he also brought in a top, young left tackle, Will Campbell, to protect Drake Maye.
This rebuild has put the team in a position to move from the bottom of the AFC East to a playoff contender in one offseason. While that's not unprecedented (note the Commanders in 2024), it's still a fantastic feat.
Not only is Mike Vrabel one of the NFL's best Head Coaches, but his staff is superb, as evidenced by the coordinators he selected. In addition, Vrabel is a master personnel evaluator and de facto general manager. The contrast between the amateurish 2024 version and the 2025 offseason couldn't be more stark.
Expect the 20th-ranked Mike Vrabel and his coaching staff to finish second in the AFC East, earn a playoff berth, and give the defending AFC East champs, the Buffalo Bills, all they can handle in their two head-to-head games. Vrabel will be in contention for another Coach of the Year award, and ESPN will have egg on its face to boot.