Pat McAfee is known for his boisterous personality and bombastic comments, and on “The Pat McAfee Show,” he does not hesitate to express his opinions. So, it was unsurprising that he had a visceral reaction when the New England Patriots announced that Mike Vrabel had been hired as the team’s next head coach.
Fans React After Pat McAfee Gets Excited Over Patriots Hiring Mike Vrabel
Legendary head coach Bill Belichick mutually parted ways with the Patriots after the 2023 season. He had been the head coach for 24 years, and it was time for new leadership.
Jerod Mayo was brought in to take over the team, but he did not last more than a season. Mayo was fired after a poor 2024 season in which the Patriots went 4-13.
On Sunday, NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that the Patriots were hiring Vrabel and had agreed to a multi-year contract. He wrote:
“Homecoming: Mike Vrabel and the Patriots reached a multi-year agreement to make him New England’s next head coach, per sources. Vrabel now is the seventh individual to become the head coach for a franchise he once helped win a Super Bowl as a player, joining Jerod Mayo, Bart Starr, Forrest Gregg, Art Shell, Jeff Saturday and Jason Garrett.”
McAfee soon saw the news and reacted with a short, two-word response.
“Holy S***!”
HOLY SHIT
Congrats @BostonConnr https://t.co/J14ly67fc5
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 12, 2025
This kind of response is fairly standard for McAfee, and under the circumstances, it wasn’t surprising.
There had been rumors over the week that the New York Jets were seriously interested in hiring Vrabel as their head coach. They reportedly interviewed Vrabel and made a late push to hire him before the Patriots sealed the deal.
Several fans reacted to McAfee’s post, sharing their excitement.
“Patriots got their guy. Let’s see if he can have the same success in New England as a coach as he did a player,” one fan wrote.
Patriots got their guy. Let's see if he can have the same success in New England as a coach as he did a player.
— It Came From The 80’s (@it_came_from80s) January 12, 2025
“Finally!! Way to go bois,” one fan commented.
Finally!! Way to go bois.
— Brad Felts (@bradfelts1) January 12, 2025
“Congrats to the patriots! Real coach,” one fan added.
Congrats to the patriots! Real coach
— YourFavWestVirginian (@WVfunnyguy) January 12, 2025
According to SNY reporter Connor Hughes, the “Jets made a late push,” but it was always going to be challenging for any team to outbid the Patriots.
Jets made a late push — they wanted him bad (justifiably so).
It was always uphill battle, likely impossible, for a team to beat out NE, though. https://t.co/5o6qim3PT9
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) January 12, 2025
Vrabel was a linebacker who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs during his career from 1997 to 2010. His best years came during his tenure with the Patriots from 2001 to 2008, in which he won three Super Bowls with in 2001, 2003, and 2004. He was also a first-team All-Pro in 2007.
Vrabel was previously the head coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023 where he was named the NFL Coach of the Year in 2021.