How Forgotten Patriots Win Unexpectedly Started Mike Vrabel Path

The New England Patriots enter their next chapter with Mike Vrabel as the 16th head coach in franchise history.

You know the story at this point from Vrabel’s eight seasons in New England, which included three Super Bowl championships with the Patriots. Now, after assistant coaching stops at Ohio State and the Houston Texans, along with six seasons as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, Vrabel is back in Foxboro with a new mission ahead.

Vrabel’s introduction as head coach immediately brought back a reflection of his last visit to Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots hosted the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 22, 2023. New England entered at 1-5 in disarray to start what would be Bill Belichick’s final season of his legendary tenure.

Mac Jones led his first career game-winning drive. After blowing a 12-point lead, the Patriots upset the eventual AFC East champions in a dramatic 29-25 win to improve to 2-5. The win marked Belichick’s final home victory of his career.

The hours after that game created this story: If the Patriots were going to turn this around, beating the Bills in legitimate fashion for the first time since Tom Brady’s departure would mark the start. Jones may have found his turning point after his struggles began after his rookie year.

Instead, New England went 2-8 the rest of the way. Belichick parted ways with the franchise, Jones was traded and the Patriots hired Jerod Mayo. So that story became irrelevant.

But that day at Gillette Stadium, especially now, is far from irrelevant.

The key point of the day looking back for the franchise came at halftime. The Patriots led 13-3 and welcomed their 2023 team Hall of Fame class to the field for a ceremony.

Vrabel took to the stage with fellow honoree and former offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia and owner Robert Kraft to address the crowd at Gillette Stadium. Vrabel, who graced the cover of the game program that afternoon, made the trip back to Foxboro as his Titans sat on the team’s bye week. As the active head coach of another NFL franchise, the start of Vrabel’s speech to Patriots fans began with an eye-opener.

“C’mon, we’ve got a game to win!”

Vrabel continued: “I can’t be up here that long. I want to thank the fans. I haven’t been back as much as I should since 2009. I want to thank the fans. I want to thank the fans that made coming and playing in this stadium unbelievably special. When we traveled, you were there. When we were here, you were there. I can imagine how you screamed and yelled at the night games on third down and when you threw the snow and every memory that comes back right now. I want to thank you, fans, for the opportunity to stand here today in front of you. Also in front of my teammates. I want to thank them. I want to recognize Logan Mankins, Bill Parcells, Dante Scarnecchia, who’s one of the toughest assistant coaches I’ve ever been a part of in 25 years in the National Football League.“

Vrabel expressed his appreciation for the team and even revealed what appeared to be his state of the franchise. He once again praised the Patriots, still employed by the franchise that fired him weeks later, with words that echoed emphatically 15 months later.

“But I also want you to not take this organization for granted. I’ve been a lot of places. This is a special place with great leadership, great fans, great direction, great coaching. Enjoy this. It’s not like this everywhere. Thank you very much.”

Vrabel clearly valued what’s ahead for the Patriots. He’s ready to write his next chapter in football. His next chapter in New England. The franchise needs a leader to pull it back into prominence. The Patriots Hall of Famer is up for the challenge and voiced that on that autumn afternoon in 2023.

We just didn’t know it then. Maybe he did. Maybe he didn’t.

Whichever way this adventure goes for Vrabel and the Patriots, his foreshadowing words that October Sunday will serve as the starting point for a consequential story for the franchise.