New England Patriots - NESN.com
Mike Vrabel brings considerable experience to his new NFL coaching gig.
The former All-Pro linebacker won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots before spending six seasons as the Tennessee Titans’ head coach. Vrabel returns home to replace former teammate Jerod Mayo in Foxborough.
Like Vrabel, Hunter Henry played under Bill Belichick. The tight end returns for his fifth season with the Patriots after setting career highs in catches (66) and receiving yards (674) in 2024.
Speaking to reporters at training camp on Monday, per WEEI’s Tom Carroll, Henry recalled playing for Belichick when praising Vrabel’s football knowledge.
“Just learning so much of the game,” Henry said. “Obviously I was with Bill, and Bill saw the game in such a great way all those years. Vrabel, under him and all the coaching experience, he’s a tremendous mind that you can pick and really learn a lot on a day-to-day basis.”
Henry is also reuniting with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who’s back for his third stint with the Patriots.
“He’s a tremendous teacher, and it’s fun to go in the meeting room and learn, because you learn something new from him every single day,” Henry said of McDaniels.
Meanwhile, Vrabel made his own lofty comparison for Henry. He likened the 30-year-old’s personality to that of former Titans All-Pro safety Kevin Byard when explaining Henry’s consistency.
“Kevin was really confident and comfortable. He never looked stressed,” Vrabel said Monday, per the team transcript. “You would look and see some younger players maybe at the same position, and they’d be sweating before the play would start. They were making checks and everything else and running. And Kevin just always had a very calm, confident demeanor and was an excellent player for us.
“I feel the same about Hunter. I think that he’s — anything that you ask him to do, it comes very easy. And he’s very instinctive and he’s got a good feel for the game.”
