Total Pro Sports
Mike Vrabel simply wanted his squad to practice against another team and wanted zero interruptions. Instead, he found himself being bloodied.
The 49-year-old Vrabel didn’t hesitate to throw himself into the middle of a pile when tensions began to rise between the New England Patriots and Washington Commanders.
First blood was drawn at Wednesday’s joint practice between the New England Patriots and Washington Commanders, and it wasn’t from any of the players.
According to the Boston Herald’s Zack Cox, Vrabel tried to break up a scrum between Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson and a Commanders edge rusher.
A skirmish broke out when Henderson took his pass-blocking assignment to the ground during an 11-on-11 period.
As reported by the Herald, Mike Vrabel threw himself into the pile to apparently separate opposing players and prevent a fight. That did not work out in his favor at all.
The 49-year-old coach emerged from the scuffle with a cut cheek. He was later seen holding ice to the right side of his face. His cheek was bloodied as a result of his actions.
Now, we are seeing the first footage to come out of the moment of Vrabel making his way from the sidelines and into the pile.
This is the only video I can find of the Patriots fight with Mike Vrabel in the middle of it.
Coach is already a legend.
🎥: @TheBostonBuzzer pic.twitter.com/gLji8CrWH0
— Savage (@SavageSports_) August 7, 2025
Vrabel isn’t expecting things to change overnight with the Patriots, but knows the culture will be different as the new season begins.
Vrabel has been given the tough task of turning the team around after two consecutive 4-13 seasons. It led to New England firing Jerod Mayo after one year and bringing in Vrabel.
There were several other changes made to the roster that included signing wide receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive end Milton Williams.
“There’s gonna be good, and there’s gonna be bad, and then we’re gonna come together and we’re gonna tear (expletive) faces,” Vrabel said last month.
Also Read: New England Patriots Star Out For Season After Suffering Brutal ACL Tear At Practice
