The New England Patriots are on the cusp of beginning preparation for the 2025 season in earnest as training camp nears. The team will report to camp later this month, and a lot has changed since the Pats won a game they shouldn't have at the tail end of the ill-fated 2024 season.
The Patriots "beat" the Buffalo Bills in a meaningless tilt and foolishly cost themselves the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. It was a costly win, and the Bills laughed all the way to the AFC East title. The 2024 regime was incapable of winning when they had to, and didn't know how not to win when it was in the team's best interest. Exit Head Coach Jerod Mayo and his staff immediately thereafter.
That was then, and this is now. Finally getting a major decision right, Patriots' owner Robert Kraft did what he should have 12 months earlier and hired Mike Vrabel. Nothing is the same in Foxborough with Vrabel calling all the shots both in personnel and on the playing field.
Robert Kraft's expectations for the Vrabel-led 2025 Patriots are high
Having finally snapped out of a six-year hiatus from sound decision-making, Kraft has now expressed his legitimate optimism after seeing his great hire doing all the right things. This stands in stark contrast to the stumbling and bumbling versions since 2019, when Kraft foolishly allowed his franchise, Tom Brady, to leave.
Owen Crisafulli of NESN has written about owner Robert Kraft's expectations for the Mike Vrabel-led Patriots in 2025.
"The former Tennessee Titans head coach will be tasked with ushering in a new era for a Patriots team that has struggled since Tom Brady’s departure back in 2020...Kraft, for one, was quick to admit his mistake in hiring Mayo, and he’s sought to remedy the situation by bringing in Vrabel. With the new campaign drawing near, Kraft made it clear he's got high hopes for the Patriots now that Vrabel is in charge.
'I personally am very excited,' Kraft said of Vrabel’s arrival on 'Dudes on Dudes.' 'The last two years have been very tough. After my family, this team is the most important thing. The one thing that brings everybody together is the NFL, and we gotta win. I believe we’re set up this year to turn around what’s gone on the last couple of years.'"
It takes a strong person to publicly admit a mistake. Kraft is all of that. He also kept his word to Jerod Mayo, making him the coach. That was also honorable. It was the earlier decision to make that commitment to Mayo that was the issue. Regardless, Kraft can now justifiably begin to revel in the new situation he created by hiring Vrabel.
Mike Vrabel has made all the difference in Foxborough
Robert Kraft understands the contrast between the dysfunctional Patriots personnel operation and coaching situation in 2024 and the stellar one he now has in place with Vrabel calling all the shots. Vrabel excelled in the 2025 offseason, in contrast to how the previous personnel team botched the 2024 version, notably absent the drafting of Drake Maye. The disparity couldn't be any more stark.
Vrabel's professionalism was immediately and unquestionably on display in how he attacked the offseason. He instantly began to shore up holes all over his roster. He added a half dozen new faces to the offensive line, arguably the worst in the NFL. Those included the fourth-overall pick in the draft, Will Campbell, who'll immediately start at left tackle, the second-most important spot on the field.
Vrabel also added legitimate weapons to his precocious young quarterback, Drake Maye's arsenal. Receivers Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins were signed in free agency; explosive wide receiver Kyle Williams was drafted in the third round; and pass-catching machine Efton Chism III was signed as an undrafted free agent. All of these receivers are as good as anyone from 2024. And home run threat running back TreVeyon Henderson was drafted in the second round.
On defense, Vrabel added upgrades at every level. Milton Williams came aboard as a top defensive
tackle; Harold Landry III was signed as the team's best sack producer; an absolute tackling machine, Robert Spillane, joined at linebacker; and lockdown cornerback Carlton Davis III signed to partner with All-Pro, Christian Gonzalez.
Vrabel did a lot more to improve the 2025 team, and he's just begun the process. Robert Kraft is right to be optimistic about the 2025 Patriots. Vrabel has made all the difference, and with Drake Maye at quarterback now with a solid supporting cast on both offense and defense, the sky is the limit. The 2025 Patriots are headed to the playoffs, and Mike Vrabel is the driving force behind their success.