It’s been less than a week since the New England Patriots hired Mike Vrabel to replace Jerod Mayo as the franchise’s new head coach — and hopeful Bill Belichick successor — but players are already speaking out about the new head honcho in Foxborough.
Former Titans Star Gives Glowing Review (And Warning) About Mike Vrabel
Former Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan spoke about his former head coach, citing Vrabel’s brilliant leadership and football mind. Somewhat tongue in cheek, he also offered a fair warning to Patriots players about Vrabel’s famous intensity:
“You need to understand that s*** is going to be really hard for a little bit. And it’s going to be OK. But just know, you’re about to go into hell for a little bit. He’s going to tell you how many years he played in the league. And he’s going to reference it forever.
“Not a bad thing, boys. I’m telling you, it’s going to work out. I was a part of it… But, keep your butthole tight in those team meeting rooms. You have got to keep your butthole tight. Because he’s going to have guys stand up, ‘Who’s this guy? Who’s that guy?’”
Lewan posted his full reaction to the news of Vrabel’s hiring on his official Twitter/X account.
Congrats to @CoachVrabel50 and the @Patriots franchise, y’all are gonna win some games 👀
To all the players and staff in the building, this is a little video for you to reference as you walk into OTAs.
I also suggest any player that gets drafted by the Pats take a peek at this… pic.twitter.com/9Jkuy3ZYSW
— Taylor Lewan (@TaylorLewan77) January 12, 2025
As an offensive lineman who played for Vrabel during five of the coach’s six years in Tennessee, Lewan certainly knows the head coach’s tendencies. If his reaction is anything to go by, the Patriots should have a prosperous future with Vrabel in the fold, even if there’s some necessary suffering along the way to get there.
Vrabel Is an Overachiever, and the Patriots Will Be Too
Lewan was one of the best left tackles in the league from the moment he was drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft (11th overall). He made three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2016-18, the latter of which was Vrabel’s first year with the Titans.
Unfortunately, Lewan struggled with numerous injuries for the rest of Vrabel’s tenure in Tennessee, playing just five games in 2020 and two games in 2022 before being forced to retire.
When healthy, Lewan and Vrabel did team up for one of the most successful stretches in recent Titans history. The team produced four consecutive winning seasons from 2018-22, posting a 41-24 record in the regular season. In the playoffs of the 2019 season, the Titans became the sixth No. 6 seed ever to make the Conference Championship.
In Tennessee, Vrabel’s teams weren’t always effective, but they did finish eighth in PFN’s Defense+ metric in 2021 and 12th in 2022. The Patriots, meanwhile, fell from ninth in Defense+ in 2023 to 30th in 2024.
Now, New England can expect to field a better run defense in 2025. From 2018-23, Tennessee ranked fourth in defensive EPA per rush (0.11) and seventh in rushing defense success rate (63%).
The 2024 Patriots had a below-average run defense, ranking 23rd in EPA per rush and 20th in run defense success rate.
In PFN’s Offense+ metric, the Titans were the No. 6 offense in 2019, then improved to second in 2020. Ryan Tannehill was graded out as one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league, finishing fifth in PFN’s QB+ metric in both seasons.
Of course, that offensive success somewhat disappeared once Derrick Henry began struggling with injuries and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith left for the Atlanta Falcons. If the Patriots hope to replicate that while continuing to develop Drake Maye, Vrabel’s most important decision this offseason will be choosing his next OC.
Regardless of the coaching staff Vrabel builds around him, though, the Patriots hired one of the best head coaches available. Seeing as his former players are willing to go to bat for him, that should portend a bright future in New England.