New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots emphasized bringing in players who had connections with the coaching staff this offseason, and it seems that they did a pretty good job.
Fox Sports’ David Helman released one player from each AFC team he expects to have a breakout season. And for the Patriots, it’s someone they added this offseason who has a connection to head coach Mike Vrabel.
Linebacker Jack Gibbens signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent out University of Minnesota, and immediately made an impression on Vrabel. So much so that Vrabel gave him the nickname “Dr. Gibby.”
And with Gibbens being reunited with Vrabel after a season away, Helman thinks this is exactly what the linebacker needs to excel.
“I love to connect the dots when I’m doing an exercise like this,” he wrote. “Gibbens got his first crack as an NFL starter in 2023 from then-Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. Two years later, it’s no surprise to see him pop up with Vrabel in New England. He’s smart, tough, and has a knack for making tackles, which has to remind Vrabel of himself a little bit. Marquee free-agent signing Robert Spillane owns one of the starting linebacker jobs in New England, but there’s plenty of room for Gibbens to make an impression.”
Gibbens praised the program Vrabel establishes wherever he is.
“I definitely just really appreciate the type of program that he builds, where it’s built on effort and knowing what to do, playing really hard, being accountable to your teammates,” Gibbens said in May. “He holds everyone to the same standard, and I think he gives opportunities. He always says that they’re going to treat you how you treat the team. And I really appreciated that with my time in Tennessee, and that’s a big reason why I wanted to come out here. I just love the accountability and you get what you work for here.”
With these two together, it’s a recipe for success!
