One of the most essential parts of the New England Patriots during the dynasty years was the culture that Bill Belichick created, which propelled the team into superstardom and their ability to sustain success over a long period of time.
Once all the winning was over, however, that culture began to show cracks, leading owner Robert Kraft to emphasize it in his next coaching hires.
There was a strong belief that, despite his inexperience, Jerod Mayo was a good fit in that regard, as the defensive players he coached sang his praises and emphasized their desire to see him as the head coach. But his inexperience, along with other factors, doomed him from the start, creating the opening for Mike Vrabel.
Because he was part of the early dynasty teams, the former linebacker understood how crucial a solid culture is for any team to be successful. He has created an atmosphere that every player has bought into, which has led to 14 wins after back-to-back 4-13 seasons, and now one of the most impressive rookies has made quite a statement about his head coach.
Mike Vrabel has been more impactful for the Patriots than just helping them win games
After dominating the Jets on Sunday, rookie left tackle Will Campbell spoke highly about Vrabel and how much he enjoys playing for him, as he's having the most fun with football since he was in high school.
While that's not totally unexpected, it's the part of his answer that's gotten all the attention. Campbell states that he doesn't want to play for any other head coach, which certainly proves the effect Vrabel has had on this team in just one season.
Rookie LT Will Campbell on #Patriots HC Mike Vrabel:
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) January 5, 2026
“I just feel like it’s very rare to have a coach like him that can connect with so many different personalities on a team. I don’t ever wanna have to play for anybody else. I feel like that’s the best way to sum it up… This… pic.twitter.com/r6Wj1wsuxv
If there were any lingering hesitations about whether Vrabel was the right guy for the job, this is just the latest example to end all doubt.
This is quite a statement for a player in his first season in the NFL, and although there might be a time when he has to play for a different coach, Campbell has made it clear that he is a ride-or-die for Vrabel.
That can take the Patriots a long way and can certainly help them achieve their biggest goals moving forward, especially since they were no longer a favorable destination over the last five years. With reviews like this about the head coach, surely players will be hoping to sign with New England, and Vrabel will be a primary reason.