From time to time, pro sports commentators like to make a point about certain players who seem to have the words "future coach" attached to their names even while they're still playing the game. The NFL is no different.
Players like Mike Ditka, Tony Dungy, Dick LeBeau, Mike Tomlin, and Raymond Berry, who were NFL players, and many others have gone on to have NFL coaching careers, as well. One close to home who obviously had that inclination is former Patriots player and current Patriots Head Coach, Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel, in only six years as a head coach, has already gleaned a coveted NFL Coach of the Year award (in 2021), and the Patriots, in one of their more level-headed decisions of recent vintage, moved quickly to lock up Vrabel to revive a franchise that had hit rock bottom. It's been great so far.
The team has already benefited from his expertise in personnel evaluation. Vrabel conducted one of the top Patriots' offseasons in recent memory, if not ever. Soon, we'll see him in action as the Patriots' Head Coach for real. Yet, even before he became a coach, his inclination to that avocation was evident even to his former teammates, like Vince Wilfork.
Patriots great Vince Wilfork knew Mike Vrabel was coaching material early on
Karen Guregian of Masslive has quoted former Patriots great Vince Wilfork, commenting on Mike Vrabel's "coach's" demeanor while he was still a player.
“'You’re not going to shut him up,' Wilfork said of his former teammate. 'If he believes in something, he’s going to tell you straight up he believes in it.' That led to some interesting exchanges. Wilfork said Vrabel was so outspoken as a player, even Tom Brady wasn’t immune to his barbs, and willingness to provide his two cents... 'If he can sit in a meeting with Tom Brady and talk about quarterback stuff, like, C’mon now,' Wilfork said, chuckling at the thought. 'You’re talking about a defensive end sitting there with Tom, and saying, ‘No, you can’t do that because this is why’ ... And I’ll tell you what, Tom listened.'”
There's plenty of meat in Wilfork's words, and they're emanating from a Patriots Hall of Famer, and one of the Patriots' and NFL's best nose tackles ever. It was clear from the outset to Vince that Vrabel was confident in his football IQ and wasn't afraid to demonstrate it. He'd go toe-to-toe with whomever was convenient, including in their areas of expertise, even about quarterbacking, with the greatest quarterback ever, Tom Brady.
Vrabel's Football IQ is unquestionable
As Wilfork pointed out, Vrabel had gravitas in football acumen that transcended his own position as a defensive end/edge. (NOTE: He also played tight end with considerable success in a limited role. He caught 8 passes for 8 touchdowns from Brady!) And Mike will need every bit of that expertise to take a moribund 2024 Patriots team and transform it into a winner again.
Fortunately, Vrabel has the ability that Wilfork pointed out, and he also has a prime prerequisite in tow, a top young quarterback with a great attitude in Drake Maye. Otherwise, he inherited a roster with no great players and only several good ones to call upon. It was going to take a top-to-bottom overhaul, but fortunately, Vrabel had the wherewithal to undertake and succeed at such a massive undertaking.
Mike Vrabel's offseason has been brilliant. He's done as fine a job as arguably anyone could have. He's used his resources wisely in free agency, drafted exceptionally well, and even signed a couple of free agents who will (or would have if not injured) make the team. Now Vrabel is putting his coaching stamp on the Patriots. There's no doubt he'll be as proficient on the field as he has been off.