New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was the recipient of the coach of the year award at the NFL Honors on February 5. The announcement was made late Thursday night.
Vrabel led the Patriots to a 14-3 regular season record and a 3-0 record so far in the playoffs. This included an 8-0 road record and clinching the AFC East title during the regular season.
“Ultimately my name will go on this award, but this award belongs to a building. It belongs to a staff. And ultimately, it belongs to the men in the locker room who believed when they couldn’t always see it and also bought in when it wasn’t easy,” Vrabel said in a video announcement.
A New Era for the New England Patriots
Mike Vrabel was hired by the Patriots in January 2025, as the organization looked for a fresh start at the coaching position.
The organization had just come off a 4-13 season with Jerod Mayo and was looking to get back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season. Vrabel had previous experience with the patent organization, having been a player for the team from 2001-2008. During that time, he was able to win three Super Bowls with the organization, and become a decorated defensive leader in the process.
Despite the “overflowing” optimism surrounding the hire, a trip to the Super Bowl seemed “incredibly far-fetched,” according to a February 5 story by the Boston Globe’s Nicole Yang.
“His ability to squeeze the most out of the rosters, his knack for game management, his willingness to participate in drills on the field, his care for the personal side of the sport . . . the list of Vrabel’s compelling attributes seems endless,” Yang wrote.
He was able to help transform the Patriots organization overnight. He quickly established a new identity and culture for the 2025 season. The results showed on the field. This included a stretch where they won 10 games in a row, before losing to the Buffalo Bills in Week 15.
Vrabel’s Familiarity With Coach of the Year Award
Vrabel first won the award in 2021 as the coach of the Tennessee Titans. The Titans had a successful season, as they were 12-5 on the year. That was good for first in the AFC South, and they were able to make it to the playoffs. They lost in the divisional round to the Cincinnati Bengals following a first-round bye.
The Titans took an impressive path to get there. They went on a similar winning streak as Vrabel’s Patriots, at one point winning six games in a row. This was the last time the Titans made the playoffs as an organization.
Vrabel’s win is the fifth time a Patriots coach has won the award. Bill Belichick won the award in 2003, 2007, 2010, while Bill Parcells won the award in 1994.
The future looks bright for the Patriots to this point. They have undergone a complete rebuild in just one season. They have their franchise quarterback in Drake Maye, and a solid defensive unit. Many of the key players, such as defensive tackle Milton Williams and wide receiver Stefon Diggs, are under contract for several more seasons. This team is positioned for not only a Super Bowl run this season, but for years to come. It remains to be seen what will happen on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, but the Patriots have their future in place
Patriots’ Mike Vrabel Wins NFL Coach of the Year Award