The Patriots have undergone some massive changes over the last few years, with the revolving door of coaches likely considered the most impactful. Robert Kraft's decision to move on from Bill Belichick after two decades was met with mixed reactions, which only worsened when the organization announced they were hiring Jerod Mayo to succeed him.
Now that Mike Vrabel has taken over after a disastrous 2024 season, there were many questions regarding how the roster would respond to another significant move. Fortunately, the players have raved about their new head coach and his staff, with many gaining renewed motivation and eagerness to help the team get back on track.
Among those who have been most vocal about their appreciation for Vrabel is third-year defensive end Keion White. The second-round pick in 2023 has emphasized his passion for Belichick's coaching style, which explains why he was not a fan of the Mayo era last year and why he is already loving Vrabel.
It has been made clear that the new coaching staff believes in White and the kind of player he can be, which has only been further confirmed by White exemplifying his commitment to what they are trying to make the team be in 2025. That is even more apparent based on his behavior around the facility, as Kendrick Bourne snapped a photo of him sleeping in front of his locker before or after practice.
#Patriots HC Mike Vrabel recently said that Keion White spends a lot of time at the facility and that he has a set routine that works well for him.
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) July 27, 2025
I think we’ve learned one aspect of that set routine 😂
(📸 @BournePoly11 IG) pic.twitter.com/nny0BD29Ij
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Keion White might be in for a breakout season, thanks to the Patriots' new coaching staff
Despite his lack of visual excitement upon being drafted by the Patriots two years ago, White was looking forward to working with a coach like Belichick upon arriving in the NFL. His style of hard-nosed, no BS coaching is exactly how he appreciated being worked with, so the Mayo era was difficult for him for many reasons.
We heard it from White last season, as he was seemingly begging to be coached harder and had a negative outlook for his future. It didn't leave much to be excited about regarding his future on the Patriots' defensive line, but that isn't the case now that Terrell Williams has joined the team's staff, in addition to Vrabel's input on the defense.
White has shared his positive feelings about the new look staff already and has been a constant presence at the stadium this offseason, as seen in Kendrick Bourne's shared photo.
The defender could be in for his best season yet now that he has a proper group of coaches to work with and a renewed mindset of what he wants to accomplish. Making it all even better are the players he gets to work with and learn from in the process, such as Christian Barmore, who is set to return full-time this year, and Milton Williams, who was awarded the largest contract in team history during this past free agency.
There is a lot of potential within that trio and the new motivation that White has acquired could be the catalyst for a destructive and dominating defensive line this fall. The hope is it's all a recipe for success, and the best is yet to come for him, and he will live up to the hype from the night he was drafted.