New England Patriots' new head coach Mike Vrabel has drawn comparisons by a few current and former Patriots players to past Patriot greats in Bill Belichick and Bill Parcels.
Mike Vrabel Draws Comparison to Patriots' Greats Bill Belichick, Bill Parcells originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The New England Patriots hired new head coach Mike Vrabel this offseason with the hope of turning around the team after consecutive four-win seasons. Just a few years ago, the Patriots were thought of as the kings of the NFL, after winning three Super Bowls in five years and being in the playoffs seemingly every year.
That dynasty was under head coach Bill Belichick, who led the Patriots to six Super Bowls during his 24 years in charge in New England.
Now, with Vrabel in charge, who played under Belichick and won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, New England is hoping to return to such success. A few current and former players see aspects of previous Patriots' coaches in Vrabel's coaching style, including Belichick, Bill Parcells, and Jerod Mayo.
One thing Belichick was known for when coaching was his pop quizzes for his players, always keeping them on their toes and thinking. Patriots' safety Jabrill Peppers said Vrabel likes to do the same.
“Any time you see Vrabs, be ready to answer a question. That’s my mind-set,” Peppers said (BostonGlobe.com). “Make sure guys are taking notes, because he might ask you a question from OTAs. He hasn’t got me yet.”
Peppers isn't the only one Vrabel's tested early on. Linebacker Christian Elliss said Vrabel does it all the time, and if you're not ready, it affects everyone.
“He does it all the time — with me he’ll ask about scheme stuff,” Elliss said. “We have to stay mentally aware, and we’ve got to make sure when he does ask us we answer the right way, or else it’s not only shame on you, but shame on your whole position.”
Vrabel's pop quizzes may seem small or even an annoyance at the time. But those little examples are what can create success over time. After all, Belichick loved his pop quizzes, and he's one of the greatest coaches ever.
But the quizzes aren't just about getting the players to pay attention and recall the information they're being taught. It's about building confidence and translating it to the field.
“It’s called direct teaching, and being able to spin it back the same way that we give you the information. And if they don’t know, I just tell them, say, ‘I don’t know.’ “That’s our job now to come in as teachers, to reapply the information and give it to them until they’re able to process it," Vrabel said. "But when guys start answering questions in front of teammates correctly, you start to see their confidence go up, and the other players are excited about going out there and playing with them.”
Vrabel also shows similarities to Parcells. Although Parcells was only in New England for four years, the legendary coach won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants. He also won two NFL Coach of the Year awards, including one in 1994 with the Patriots.
“I would say there’s definitely more of Parcells in him, in terms of a lot of charm, a lot of charisma, and a lot of energy,” said former Patriots' linebacker Ted Johnson, who played for Parcells and Belichick in Foxborough. “But the Belichick stuff is just not leaving any stone unturned, being a smart football team, having guys that are versatile and high football IQ. Those are all qualities Belichick looked for, and Vrabel is the same way.”
While Vrabel possesses the football IQ aspect of the game similar to Belichick, his connection with his players resembles that of Parcells.
We've already seen numerous instances since Vrabel's arrival in New England. Whether you think about him lining up against first-round pick Will Campbell, or chirping with Peppers by wearing his jersey to practice.
“That was a big part of his coaching style, was the interplay with players, particularly guys that he had an affinity for. He loved to chirp and to bust on guys, and he was a phenomenal motivator. Parcells didn’t treat everyone the same, and I think that’s Mike,” said Johnson, who played with Vrabel from 2001-04. “He identifies what guys need, and then acts accordingly.”
HC Mike Vrabel hands-on with TE Jaheim Bell pic.twitter.com/7epsu7fAQD
— Zac Ventola (@NEPatriotsToday) July 30, 2025
There are different aspects of Vrabel's coaching repertoire that you can compare to various former Patriots' coaches, and another one is that he used to be a Patriot, similar to the previous head coach, Jerod Mayo.
Vrabel not only played the game and knows what the players are going through on a daily basis, but he did so with the same team and at a very high level.
“When you’ve got a guy that played at a high level, won some Super Bowls and got it out of the mud, you’ve got a certain respect for him,” Patriots' right tackle Morgan Moses said. “When you see a coach holding pads and getting blasted every day, and he’s not complaining, he’s not moaning about it, that makes everybody respect that level of attitude.”
Vrabel has shown he's not afraid to get in on the action with his players. But that dedication and energy allow him to joke and throw jabs with his guys as well. Vrabel's been in coaching for 15 years now, and he's learned from numerous mentors along the way.
Whether it's Belichick, Parcells, or even Mayo that Vrabel resembles in New England, he's taken pieces from many coaches along his journey to form his own, unique coaching style. The Patriots' hope is that style will help turn the franchise back in the right direction in the near future.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football
