Lately-hired New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel earned three Tremendous Bowl rings enjoying for the membership underneath former coach Invoice Belichick and later competed towards Belichick whereas serving as head coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2018–23.
Throughout a Monday look on “The Pat McAfee Present,” Belichick reacted to his former employer hiring Vrabel shortly after it fired first-year coach Jerod Mayo.
“I’ve stayed in very shut contact with Mike,” Belichick defined, as shared by Lauren Campbell of MassLive. “So I’ve a ton of respect for Mike. I believe he does an ideal job. He prepares his groups nicely. They’re superb in situational soccer, they’re robust, they’re aggressive, they’re sensible — similar to he was as a participant.”
It was Vrabel’s Titans that defeated Belichick’s Patriots in a wild-card playoff sport in January 2020. Quarterback Tom Brady finally left New England as a free agent in March of that yr, and the Patriots missed the playoffs thrice throughout 4 seasons earlier than crew proprietor Robert Kraft parted methods with Belichick.
Mayo labored on Belichick’s employees from 2019-23, however their relationship seemingly became a bit frosty throughout Belichick’s ultimate season with New England. This previous fall, they received into considerably of a war of words after Mayo referred to the Patriots as “gentle” after a loss.
On Sunday, former Titans offensive sort out Taylor Lewan noted that New England’s tradition underneath Vrabel “goes to be unimaginable.” Belichick touched upon that topic on Monday.
“I believe groups that he’s coached and the positions he’s coached comply with very a lot in his enjoying model and his preparation model,” Belichick added. “So, I like Mike. I like all the things that he stands for as a soccer coach, and I’ve numerous respect for him. I’m positive he’ll do an ideal job.”
In the meantime, Vrabel acknowledged throughout his introductory information convention on Monday that following in Belichick’s footsteps with New England is a “distinctive” expertise.
“Let’s be actual for a minute,” Vrabel stated, as shared by Amin Touri of The Boston Globe. “Having performed for him, competing towards him, and likewise having a friendship with Invoice alongside the way in which…I believe it’s particular, it’s distinctive, having performed right here, understanding Invoice, however once more, we have to give attention to issues which are going to assist us win now, assist our gamers, and like I stated, provoke the constructing, the crew and our fanbase. There’s additionally issues that I’m going to attempt to clarify to our gamers, that there are issues which are fascinating and issues which are essential. I believe me having performed for Invoice is fascinating. I simply don’t know if it’s essential to serving to our gamers.”
Vrabel is a one-time Related Press Coach of the Yr Award winner who, in contrast to Mayo, proved he can information a membership to a convention championship sport look away from Belichick. Belichick will at all times be a Patriots legend, nevertheless it seems like Vrabel might be closing the door on the franchise’s earlier period.
