This Was ‘Most Important’ Aspect Of Mike Vrabel’s Patriots Interview

The Patriots’ head coaching job seemingly was Mike Vrabel’s to lose from the second Jerod Mayo was fired.

Still, the former New England linebacker left a strong impression on the franchise’s brass when he returned to his old stomping grounds last week.

Vrabel interviewed with the Patriots in Boston on Thursday, a mere three days before the organization announced the three-time Super Bowl champion was hired to replace Mayo. At Vrabel’s introductory press conference Monday afternoon, Patriots owner Robert Kraft revealed the 49-year-old’s foremost selling point when he stated his case for the position.

“In the interview process, Mike showed us that he had a very deep understanding of our current team,” Kraft told reporters. “Most importantly, he had a clear and focused strategy of how to get us back to a championship way that is so important to all of us but also something I think our fanbase really deserves and expects.”

Vrabel provided some insight into that strategy when he took the podium for the first time as Patriots head coach. The 2021 Coach of the Year stressed he’ll remove “entitlement” from One Patriot Place and made it clear players will have to earn their opportunities on the field.

Even casual fans knew Vrabel was going to make his presence felt the second he returned to the Patriots facilities. And it sure sounds like he’s going to hit the ground running.