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The New England Patriots’ new head coach, Mike Vrabel, wasted no time establishing a new tone in Foxborough in his first year as the team’s leader in 2025. Renowned for his physicality and no-nonsense attitude, Vrabel began training camp by getting hands-on with players and making headlines for a humorous but pointed exchange with veteran safety Jabrill Peppers.
Vrabel, a Patriots legend and three-time Super Bowl champion, was spotted wearing a No. 5 jersey, Peppers’ number, during walkthroughs. When Peppers saw it, he jokingly challenged Vrabel.
“I keep telling him to take that 5 off because he’s not tough enough,” Peppers said with a smile. “He told me to go check in on the Patriots Hall of Fame. Nothing I could say to come back from that.”
There’s weight behind Vrabel’s flex. He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2023, having played eight seasons in New England, making a Pro Bowl in 2007, and helping the team win three Super Bowls.
A dominant linebacker during his playing career, Mike Vrabel logged 762 tackles, 57 sacks, 11 interceptions, and 11 total touchdowns, 10 of them receptions, despite being primarily a defensive player. He is the only defensive player to score touchdowns in two Super Bowls (XXXVIII and XXXIX). He made the Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro in 2007 while wearing No. 50 for New England.
Peppers, who dealt with legal issues in 2024 but enters this season with a clean slate, figures to be an essential figure in the Patriots’ secondary alongside Kyle Dugger. His chemistry with Vrabel, which traces back to a college recruiting visit when Vrabel routed him during a drill at Ohio State, has resurfaced now that they’re reunited in New England.
Vrabel’s coaching style stands out in comparison to his predecessor, Bill Belichick. While Belichick was known for his stoic sideline presence and signature hoodie, Vrabel, even at 49, is fully engaged, donning gear, sweating through drills, and participating across position groups.
After serving as head coach of the Titans (2018–2023) and a consultant with the Browns in 2024, Vrabel brings new energy and a championship pedigree to a Patriots team eager to return to relevance.
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