Vrabel: Pats need a culture ‘based on a winning, competitive spirit’

FOXBORO, Mass. (WLNE) — The New England Patriots introduced newly hired head coach Mike Vrabel Monday morning after handing over the sideline to the former Pats linebacker Sunday.

Vrabel, who was a mainstay linebacker for the Patriots from 2001 – 2008, outlined his vision for bringing the six-time Super Bowl-winning team back to the playoffs and hopefully a seventh banner and beyond.

“You can find out what your culture is like when your family, your business, your team, is at its low point,” said Vrabel.

He added that he wanted a “culture built on a winning, competitive spirit.”

“I’m excited to get to work.”

He stated that everyone and their job is critically important to team’s success and stressed “removing entitlement from our football team.”

“We’re gonna earn the right to be here every single day,” said Vrabel.

Asked what kind of players he wanted to field in a Patriots uniform, Vrabel quipped, “I’m gonna say good ones.”

He added that he wanted players who put the team first, who knew what to do, and who would play fast and aggressive.

“Leaders are going to identify themselves,” said Vrabel.

Vrabel emphasized the need for diverse ideas when it came to collaborating with his future staff.

“We want to put the best talented coaches in front of our players,” said Vrabel.

“We want them to embrace what they’re teaching.”

Vrabel broke it down to “three simple jobs”: Teach, develop and inspire.

Patriots hopeful franchise quarterback Drake Maye was brought up, and how Vrabel might utilize the talented rookie, one of the few bright spots of an otherwise dismal 2024 season.

“Drake is gonna be his own person,” said Vrabel.

“We have to be a very efficient passing football team.”

Vrabel said that game management and situational awareness would be the foundation of Maye’s future development.

What about the front office?

“Nothing has been finalized, nothing’s been determined,” said Vrabel.

“As with any staff, there’s gonna be turnover.”

The Mike Vrabel Era in New England is underway. @ABC6 #Patriots pic.twitter.com/6cCmqPLfDU

— Nick Coit (@NCoitABC6) January 13, 2025

Going into the storied history of the New England Patriots, and the aforementioned six titles, Vrabel said “The banners that hang in our stadium aren’t going to help us win.”

He added that “they’re great reminders of what it takes,” a blueprint on how hard they need to work.

“Everyone in my eyes is starting over,” said Vrabel.

With their disappointing 4-13 record comes a high draft pick for the Pats in April, 4th overall.

Vrabel stated that the roster building process will start with free agency, and will go from there.

He mentioned the need for a strong offensive line to protect Maye, as defensive lines have evolved to feature bigger and stronger players over the years.

Even with one year of Jerod Mayo as something of a buffer, Vrabel was asked about being a successor to Bill Belichick, who coached him his entire tenure as a Patriots linebacker.

“Following in Bill Belichick’s footsteps, it is unique, obviously,” said Vrabel.

“Having played for him, competing against him, and having a friendship with Bill along the way” would largely be left in early 2000s.

Vrabel is only concerned with “winning now.”

Though Vrabel didn’t fully downplay his experiences with Belichick and former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cower that helped inform his transition into the coach he is today.

But he made sure to re-state that the team will be starting over under his watch.

“We need to be good enough to take advantage of bad football.”

Vrabel concluded his remarks with a statement almost Belichickian in its vagueness: “Time to get to work.”