Vrabel did it all with a shaken roster that featured several new faces, multiple rookies and a second-year quarterback in Drake Maye, who blossomed in 2025 while leading an offense that finished second (28.8 points per game) and third overall (379.4 yards per game).
The Patriots defense also saw a big improvement under Vrabel, ranking fourth in points allowed (18.8) and eighth overall (295.2 YPG) in the NFL.
The 2025 Patriots went on a 10-game winning streak from Weeks 4-13 while going on a losing streak and not losing a single road game during the regular season, leading to their first AFC East title since 2019 and the No. 2 seed in the conference.
Vrabel’s arrival in New England last season was hailed as a homecoming: a former player who earned three Super Bowl rings with the Patriots returning as head coach ready to lead the team back to success.
Of course, Vrabel’s turnaround is underway, with the Patriots one win away from a seventh Lombardi Trophy. He became the eighth coach ever to win a Super Bowl in his first season with a club, and his 17 games won so far in 2025 is tied for the most all-time by a head coach in his first season with a team.
Thursday also marked the second time Vrabel has been named the AP NFL Coach of the Year, an honor he won for the first time in 2021 after leading the Tennessee Titans to the AFC’s No. 1 seed.