Predictions about the 2025 NFL season are all the rage now as the 32 teams gear up for their first real games. Whether the predictions are good or poor for your home team, they'll gather interest and argument from each team's faithful. Some predictions also come from former players.
Among those who are bullish on Mike Vrabel's version of the Patriots is Patriots Hall of Famer, great nose tackle, and uber-fan favorite, Vince Wilfork. Vince sees great things this season for the Patriots, yet perhaps his enthusiasm should be tempered just a tad.
Wilfork also had high hopes for the Jerod Mayo-coached team in 2024, and that didn't work out very well. Regardless, having a former player's positive support for any Patriots team, especially a player as well-respected and liked as Vince Wilfork is by Patriot Nation, is never a bad thing. And in 2025, Vince's optimism is based on his staunch support of Head Coach Mike Vrabel and his abilities.
Vince Wilfork sees a Mike Vrabel-led "well-oiled machine"
This season, Vince Wilfork sees a quantum leap in store for the Patriots in large part due to the presence of his former teammate, Mike Vrabel, as Head Coach. To say he's bullish on the 2025 Patriots would be a gross understatement.
Masslive's Karen Guregian has quoted Patriots' Hall of Famer Wilfork on his thoughts on the Patriots' upcoming season.
“'I’m excited about this season. I think they’re going to take the league by storm, honestly. I think we’re going to shock the league with how we’re going to look,' Wilfork told MassLive last week while in town promoting his new BBQ sauce. 'I’m not saying we’re going to be the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but I think Mike is going to change a lot of things around. I think we’re going to see a different football team. I think we’re going to see a well-oiled machine.'"
Even mentioning the "No. 1 seed" in the conversation is a clear indication that Vince thinks Vrabel will take the team to a whole new level. And Wilfork, in the same Karen Guregian article, also commented on the biggest piece of the puzzle: the Patriots' young quarterback. Drake Maye. "Love Drake. I love the kid,”'"'ilfork said of the Patriots quarterback, who he got to spend time with last year. 'H'He'sot what it takes to be elite.'"
Vrabel's offseason substantiates Vince Wilfork's viewpoint
Having an "elite" quarterback, as Wilfork pointed out, is a crucial ingredient to having a competitive NFL team. That view shouldn't be surprising for Wilfork, who played with the most elite of quarterbacks, Tom Brady, who took the Patriots to or near the No. 1 seed in the AFC annually.
Drake Maye is no Tom Brady, but the young dual-threat quarterback epitomizes what new NFL offenses are featuring more and more: dual-threat quarterbacks who beat you with the run as well as the pass. Maye qualifies on both accounts. He completed 66 percent of his 2024 passes despite a terrible offensive line and poor receivers, while also running for 421 yards himself.
Vrabel has significantly improved Maye's offensive supporting cast and done similarly on defense. And, while depth is thin in both, the starting lineups on both sides of the ball will be major upgrades over the lackluster 2024 versions.
All this points to a team that will have early growing pains. Rookie starters will need to get acclimated to the rigors of the NFL, and all the new players have to learn to play together as a team. Once that coalesces after several games, however, it's no stretch to think the 2025 Patriots, coached by Mike Vrabel, will, as Wilfork says, "take the league by storm".