Mike Vrabel Wins Coach Of The Year After Patriots Historic Turnaround

Mike Vrabel’s return to the New England Patriots wasn’t just a homecoming—it’s turned into one of the most remarkable coaching stories in recent NFL memory. On Thursday night at the NFL Honors in San Francisco, Vrabel was named the 2025 NFL Coach of the Year, capping a season that has left fans and pundits alike shaking their heads in disbelief at the Patriots’ dramatic turnaround.

Just a year ago, the Patriots were mired in back-to-back 4-13 seasons, having cycled through head coaches and facing an identity crisis after the departure of legendary coach Bill Belichick and the brief tenure of Jerod Mayo. When Vrabel, a former Patriots linebacker and three-time Super Bowl champion as a player, was hired in the offseason, expectations were tempered. Sure, he brought a strong track record from his time with the Tennessee Titans—where he’d already earned a Coach of the Year nod in 2021—but few predicted the seismic shift that would follow.

Fast-forward to February 2026, and Vrabel’s Patriots have not only clinched the AFC East for the first time since 2019, but they’ve also powered through the postseason to earn a spot in Super Bowl LX. They finished the regular season with a 14-3 record, a jaw-dropping leap from their previous struggles. Including playoff victories, New England has tallied 17 wins in Vrabel’s first year, tying George Seifert’s 1989 San Francisco 49ers for the most ever by a first-year head coach. Should the Patriots prevail in Sunday’s Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks, Vrabel would set a new NFL record for wins in a debut season and become just the fifth coach to win a Super Bowl in his first year on the job.

Vrabel was not in attendance at the Palace of Fine Arts for the NFL Honors ceremony, as he and his team are laser-focused on preparations for the big game at Levi’s Stadium. Instead, he accepted the award via a video message, his words echoing the team-first ethos that’s defined his approach. “Ultimately my name goes on this award, but this name belongs to a building, it belongs to a staff, and ultimately belongs to the men in the locker room who believed when they couldn’t always see it, and bought in when it wasn’t always easy,” Vrabel said. “We did this together, and I’ll always be thankful and grateful to be your coach.”

The voting for Coach of the Year reflected the respect Vrabel has earned across the league. He received 19 first-place votes and 302 points, outpacing Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen (16 first-place votes, 239 points), Seattle Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald (eight first-place votes, 191 points), Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson (one first-place vote, 145 points), and San Francisco 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan (six first-place votes, 140 points). This marks Vrabel’s second time winning the award, making him the 14th coach in NFL history to earn the honor twice and the seventh to do so with two different teams.

Vrabel’s journey back to New England was anything but straightforward. After being let go by the Titans in 2024, he spent a brief stint as a consultant with the Cleveland Browns before seizing the opportunity to lead the franchise where he’d once starred as a player. Patriots owner Robert Kraft and the front office were seeking a leader who could reignite the team’s competitive fire, and Vrabel’s no-nonsense, collaborative style proved to be the perfect fit.

The transformation was evident from the outset. The Patriots’ offense, coordinated by Assistant Coach of the Year winner Josh McDaniels, found new life. The defense, long a hallmark of New England football, rediscovered its bite. The locker room, once fractured, rallied around Vrabel’s message of unity and resilience. “He’s brought back the belief that we can win every week,” said one Patriots veteran. “His energy is contagious, and he holds everyone accountable, from the rookies to the veterans.”

Vrabel’s impact was felt beyond the stat sheet. He became the first head coach to inherit a 13-loss team and deliver at least 13 wins in his first season. The Patriots’ 17 wins (including playoffs) not only tied a league record but also positioned Vrabel for a shot at history—if New England wins the Super Bowl, he’ll be the first coach ever to win both Coach of the Year and the Super Bowl in the same season since Bill Belichick did it with the Patriots in 2003. Even more remarkably, Vrabel could become the first person in NFL history to win a Super Bowl as both a player and head coach with the same franchise.

Vrabel’s former teammate, Tom Brady, even chimed in with some trademark humor and heartfelt praise. “Vrabes, you’re like my brother,” Brady said in a public message. “I love ya, I’m so proud of ya. Even though you went to Ohio State, your caliber of decision-making was questionable back then, you’ve become a great teammate of mine and a Super Bowl champion. Not to mention a great goal line, and I’m just going to mention a goal line, wide receiver. You didn’t do anything outside of the 1-yard line. So, you’re not that good as a wide receiver, but you’re a hell of a coach.”

This season’s NFL Honors were packed with memorable moments, but Vrabel’s recognition stood out as a testament to the power of leadership and belief. The Patriots’ turnaround wasn’t just about X’s and O’s—it was about changing a culture, restoring pride, and proving that even storied franchises can reinvent themselves with the right person at the helm.

As the Patriots prepare to face the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, the football world will be watching to see if Vrabel can complete one of the most astonishing first-year coaching runs in league history. Whether or not New England hoists the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday, Vrabel’s impact on the franchise is already secure. The NFL Coach of the Year award is just the latest proof that sometimes, the right leader can make all the difference.