When Hunter Henry first came to the Patriots before the 2021 season, Bill Belichick's no-nonsense approach was part of the allure. Even though the team has not had success on the field, with only one playoff appearance since Henry came to New England, the veteran tight end took Belichick's discipline and toughness to heart.
Fast-forward to the 2024 campaign, and Jerod Mayo's locker room resembled a vacation at the beach more, and the result was a 4-13 disaster that led to Mayo's firing after just one season.
Enter Mike Vrabel, and the vibe around the Patriots has already been different in the new head coach's first training camp. At least that's how Henry sees it.
Hunter Henry talks about the advantage of having experienced coaches this season like Vrabel and McDaniels, and compares Vrabel to Bill Belichick:
— Tom Carroll (@yaboiTCfresh) July 28, 2025
“…[McDaniels], his level of knowledge and just how much he can help us learn and take a step forward, and have something go wrong… pic.twitter.com/znJq97SYlA
Accountability can be a factor that turns things around for the Patriots
Henry's recent comments speak volumes about what the Patriots were missing a season ago. Yes, the team on the field had multiple holes, but Mayo was just too lackadaisical as a head coach, and there was zero accountability
When you're not winning, that just magnifies the problem even further. It was arguably the biggest factor in New England's struggles last season. It was on full display in the final games of the regular season, when very few Patriots seemed interested in playing on the field.
Henry is one of many Patriots' players expected to have better 2025 seasons. Vrabel's emphasis on toughness and accountability will be a major factor if that happens, especially if the season ends in a playoff appearance. The Patriots know that their locker room no longer resembles a country club, and while the regular season is a month away, they've responded well in training camp.
Actions speak louder than words, and the Patriots will have to back up Henry's comments on the field. Toughness and accountability were ultimately the biggest factors in New England's first championship in 2001. If the team wants to return to contention, they'll have to embody their head coach's mindset.