Revisiting Mike Vrabel’s playing career in NFL: What to know about Patriots coach’s time with New England, Houston originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It’s not much of a surprise that Mike Vrabel found immediate success as the head coach of the New England Patriots.
Advertisement
Not only did Vrabel make multiple playoff trips in his first head coaching role, with the Tennessee Titans, but his hard-nosed mentality aligns well with the Patriots’ organization, which long employed Bill Belichick. New England, however, was also well-familiar with Vrabel when it hired him in 2025.
Vrabel didn’t just play for the Patriots — he was a key defender on three of their Super Bowl teams in the 2000s.
Here’s everything to know about Mike Vrabel’s playing career and how he got into coaching afterward.
MORE: Inside Mike Vrabel’s playoff coaching career, wins
Did Mike Vrabel play in the NFL?
Mike Vrabel didn’t just play in the NFL — he was a key defensive cog on the New England Patriots’ dynasty in the 2000s. He played for three of the most iconic franchises in the league in the Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs.
Advertisement
As a defensive end-turned-linebacker, Vrabel was selected by the Steelers with the 91st overall pick in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft. However, Vrabel had a limited impact during the first four years of his career in Pittsburgh — his most notable moment with the franchise came during his rookie year, when Vrabel strip-sacked Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe to clinch a 7-6 win for the Steelers in the AFC Divisional Round.
In 2001, Vrabel signed with the Patriots as a free agent. Immediately, he became a contributor to Bill Belichick’s defense. That season, Vrabel started in 12 of his 16 games, setting career-highs in tackles (63), sacks (3.0), interceptions (2), and passes defended (nine). He became a versatile weapon for Belichick, helping the team win a Super Bowl in his first season, and from that point on, he’d remain a starter in New England.
Vrabel would spend eight years with the Patriots, winning a total of three Super Bowls and remaining an outstanding starting linebacker. In 2007, he was named a First-Team All-Pro and a Pro Bowl selection after totaling 77 tackles, 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles, by far his best season as a pass rusher.
Belichick also deployed Vrabel in some unique offensive packages as well, and he became a unique red-zone threat in his career despite his defensive background. In Super Bowl XXXVIII, Vrabel was lined up as a tight end and caught a touchdown pass from Tom Brady — which make the linebacker the first defensive player to score on offense since William “Refrigerator” Perry did it for the Bears in Super Bowl XX.
The next year, Vrabel did it again in Super Bowl XXXIX. In the Patriots’ win over the Eagles, Vrabel caught his second Super Bowl touchdown pass.
Throughout his career, Vrabel caught 12 passes, all of which were touchdowns. In December 2005, his rare two-way talents made him the first player to have two touchdown catches and a sack in the same game since sacks were officially recorded in 1982.
Advertisement
Vrabel finished out his NFL career with the Chiefs, being traded to Kansas City by New England in February 2009. He’d play two seasons with the Chiefs, remaining a starting linebacker, but saw a decline in his numbers from his time in New England.
After the 2010 season, Vrabel retired as a three-time Super Bowl champion with plenty of highlights on both sides of the ball.
MORE: Ranking the best Patriots players ever
What position did Mike Vrabel play?
Mike Vrabel played defensive end in college, but in the NFL, he was a linebacker.
Both of those positions led him into coaching, as he served as the linebackers and defensive line coach at Ohio State from 2011-13, then the linebackers coach for the Houston Texans from 2014-16.
Advertisement
MORE: Who is on the Mount Rushmore of Boston sports?
Where did Mike Vrabel play college football?
Mike Vrabel played college football at Ohio State from 1993-96. As a native of Akron, Ohio, Vrabel stayed in-state to join the Buckeyes.
As a defensive end at Ohio State, Vrabel had 10 sacks as a sophomore, 12 as a junior and nine as a senior. In his senior season, he was recognized as a first-team All-American and earned his second-straight Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year award.
Vrabel was named to the Ohio State Football All-Century Team in 2000, and in 2012, he was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame.
Advertisement
MORE:Ranking the best Ohio State players ever
Mike Vrabel NFL stats
Here’s a look at Vrabel’s stats over his NFL career.
|
Season |
Team |
Games |
Total Tackles |
Solo Tackles |
Sacks |
Passes Defended |
Interceptions |
Forced Fumbles |
|
1997 |
Steelers |
15 |
17 |
14 |
1.5 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
1998 |
Steelers |
11 |
9 |
6 |
2.5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1999 |
Steelers |
10 |
5 |
4 |
2.0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
2000 |
Steelers |
15 |
5 |
3 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
2001 |
Patriots |
16 |
63 |
40 |
3.0 |
9 |
2 |
0 |
|
2002 |
Patriots |
16 |
82 |
58 |
4.5 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
|
2003 |
Patriots |
13 |
52 |
37 |
9.5 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
|
2004 |
Patriots |
16 |
71 |
54 |
5.5 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
2005 |
Patriots |
16 |
108 |
73 |
4.5 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
|
2006 |
Patriots |
16 |
89 |
54 |
4.5 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
|
2007 |
Patriots |
16 |
77 |
55 |
12.5 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
2008 |
Patriots |
16 |
62 |
40 |
4.0 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
|
2009 |
Chiefs |
14 |
52 |
43 |
2.0 |
6 |
0 |
2 |
|
2010 |
Chiefs |
16 |
48 |
30 |
0.0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Career: |
— |
206 |
740 |
511 |
57.0 |
41 |
11 |
19 |
MORE: Why does Drake Maye have the “Drake Maye” nickname?
Mike Vrabel NFL awards, accolades
Here’s a full look at Vrabel’s awards and accolades during his playing career.
-
3x Super Bowl champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX)
-
2 Super Bowl touchdown receptions
-
New England Patriots All-2000s Team
-
New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team
-
New England Patriots All-Dynasty Team
-
New England Patriots Hall of Fame
MORE:Tom Brady vs. Patrick Mahomes: Key stats you need to know in the NFL’s GOAT debate
Mike Vrabel coaching career
After he retired during the summer of 2011, Vrabel immediately went into coaching, joining his alma mater, Ohio State, as a linebackers coach. The following December, he became the Buckeyes’ defensive line coach.
Advertisement
Vrabel’s ascension in the coaching world was rapid, as he would make just one more move before becoming an NFL head coach. In 2014, the Houston Texans hired him as their new linebackers coach — and after three years of success in that role, Vrabel was promoted to defensive coordinator in January 2017.
Just one year later, the Tennessee Titans interviewed, then selected, Vrabel as their next head coach. He helped the franchise establish a strong defensive presence and success in the run game behind Derrick Henry, winning AFC South titles in 2020 and 2021 and making three playoff trips in his tenure, including an appearance in the 2019 AFC Championship Game.
However, after back-to-back losing seasons in 2022 and 2023, the Titans parted ways with Vrabel. He took a one-year hiatus from being a head coach as a coaching and personnel consultant for the Cleveland Browns in the 2024 season.
In January 2025, Vrabel was hired as the Patriots’ head coach, replacing Jerod Mayo as the franchise’s hopeful replacement to find similar success to Belichick. As a former New England player, Vrabel immediately became a fan-favorite, and it translated to an outstanding first season.
Advertisement
The Patriots went 14-3 in their first season behind Vrabel, with quarterback Drake Maye becoming an MVP candidate in the 2025 campaign.
