Just 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 in opposition to 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 excellent job. He prepares his groups nicely. They’re excellent in situational soccer, they’re powerful, they’re aggressive, they’re good — identical 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 in the end left New England as a free agent in March of that 12 months, and the Patriots missed the playoffs thrice throughout 4 seasons earlier than staff proprietor Robert Kraft parted methods with Belichick.
Mayo labored on Belichick’s employees from 2019-23, however their relationship seemingly grew to become a bit frosty throughout Belichick’s closing season with New England. This previous fall, they obtained into considerably of a disagreement after Mayo referred to the Patriots as “mushy” after a loss.
On Sunday, former Titans offensive sort out Taylor Lewan famous that New England’s tradition underneath Vrabel “goes to be unbelievable.” Belichick touched upon that topic on Monday.
“I believe groups that he’s coached and the positions he’s coached observe very a lot in his enjoying type and his preparation type,” Belichick added. “So, I like Mike. I like every little thing that he stands for as a soccer coach, and I’ve a variety of respect for him. I’m positive he’ll do an excellent 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 in opposition to 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 deal with issues which can be going to assist us win now, assist our gamers, and like I stated, provoke the constructing, the staff and our fanbase. There’s additionally issues that I’m going to attempt to clarify to our gamers, that there are issues which can be attention-grabbing and issues which can be necessary. I believe me having performed for Invoice is attention-grabbing. I simply don’t know if it’s necessary to serving to our gamers.”
Vrabel is a one-time Related Press Coach of the 12 months 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, but it surely seems like Vrabel will likely be closing the door on the franchise’s earlier period.
