Patriots Mike Vrabel Nabs End of Season Award Over Seahawks Mike MacDonald

Mike Vrabel has led the Patriots to a Super Bowl in his first season as the head coach of the team, and he is a finalist for the Associated Press Coach of the Year Award.

Vrabel is the current betting favorite to win the award, with Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald behind him. Vrabel is a heavy favorite, and the AP Coach of the Year will not be announced until later, but Vrabel has already started collecting awards.

Vrabel has already been named the Professional Football Writers of America Coach of the Year, and was named Sporting News Coach of the Year on Thursday.

“In winning the SN award with two teams, Vrabel joins Don Shula (Colts, Dolphins), Chuck Knox (Rams, Bills, Seahawks), Dick Vermeil (Eagles, Rams), Andy Reid (Eagles, Chiefs) who did it before him as leaders of multiple franchises,” wrote Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer.

Vrabel led the Patriots to a 14-3 record in his first season as the head coach. Vrabel joined George Seifert and Jim Caldwell as the only coaches to win 14 games in their first year as head coaches of a franchise.

He won three Super Bowls as a player for the Patriots, and if he can win the Super Bowl on Feb. 8, he will be the first person to win a Super Bowl as a player and a coach for the same franchise.

At this point, Vrabel seems like a lock to win the AP Coach of the Year Award at the NFL Honors. What he has done this season after the Patriots won just four games last season is remarkable.