Mike Vrabel

Michael George Vrabel is an American football coach and a former player. He is currently the head coach for the New England Patriots in the National Football League (NFL). He was born on August 14, 1975.

Vrabel played football for 14 seasons in the NFL. He is best known for his time with the Patriots, where he won three Super Bowl titles.

Vrabel started his college football career with the Ohio State Buckeyes, earning All-American honors twice. He was picked in the third round of the 1997 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He later played eight seasons with the Patriots, earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors in 2007.

As a head coach, Vrabel first led the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023. During that time, he helped the team reach the playoffs three times and win two division titles. He was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2021. In 2025, he became the head coach of the Patriots and led them to an appearance in Super Bowl LX.

Early life

Mike Vrabel was born on August 14, 1975, in Akron, Ohio. He went to Walsh Jesuit High School in nearby Cuyahoga Falls, where he played football and did very well. His team was led by a coach named Gerry Rardin.

Mike Vrabel has Slovak American roots from his father's side. His great-grandfather, Andrej Vrábel, came from Krivany in what is now Slovakia. From his mother's side, his grandparents, George and Frances Petroff, lived in Akron, Ohio, and were members of the Bulgarian American Eastern Orthodox St. Thomas Church. They supported the Macedonian Patriotic Organization.

Playing career

Mike Vrabel played college football at The Ohio State University from 1993 to 1996 as a defensive end. He was a great player, winning many awards and helping his team with strong play.

Vrabel began his professional career with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997. He later joined the New England Patriots in 2001, where he became an important player on defense. In 2007, he had a very good season and was chosen for the Pro Bowl. He also scored points on offense in two Super Bowls. In 2009, Vrabel was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, where he played for two seasons before retiring.

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Postseason

Coaching career

Vrabel retired on July 10, 2011, to become the linebackers coach at Ohio State. New Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer kept Vrabel on as defensive line coach.

On January 10, 2014, Vrabel was hired by the Houston Texans as a linebackers coach. During his time there, the Texans became very good at stopping their opponents. In January 2017, he became their defensive coordinator. He coached players such as J. J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, Whitney Mercilus, and Benardrick McKinney.

On January 20, 2018, Vrabel was hired as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans. In his first game, he got his first win as a head coach. Later, he led the Titans to big victories, including beating his old coach Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. The Titans improved their defense and almost made the playoffs.

In 2019, the Titans made the playoffs. They won big games on the way to the AFC Championship but lost there. In 2020, the Titans had their best season in years, winning 11 games and the division title. In 2021, they won 12 games and the division again but lost in the playoffs. In 2022, after starting well, they lost many games in a row and missed the playoffs. In 2023, after a poor season, Vrabel was fired.

After 2023, Vrabel joined the Cleveland Browns as a consultant.

On January 12, 2025, Vrabel became the head coach of the New England Patriots. That year, he led the Patriots to a great season, their best in years, and to the Super Bowl. Although they didn’t win the Super Bowl, Vrabel was named AP Coach of the Year for his work in 2025.

Head coaching record

Personal life

Mike Vrabel is married to Jennifer, and they have two sons named Tyler and Carter. Tyler played football for the Boston College Eagles and tried out for a professional team. Carter played baseball at Volunteer State Community College and then went to Tennessee Tech for his final year.

Vrabel started a foundation called "Mike's Second and Seven Foundation" with some friends to help improve reading skills in central Ohio. There was a time when Vrabel had some trouble at a casino, but it was resolved as a misunderstanding. Later, there were rumors about Vrabel and a reporter after some photos were shared online, but Vrabel said the rumors were not true and chose to get counseling to address the situation.