Announcement

So, as I sit here ready to write this article about the Patriots and their journey into this 2025 season after a not-so-great loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, I realise that today marks a significant day for me. Five years ago my first ever piece of Patriots content dropped… my first article entitled “Patriots Tight Ends have potential in 2020” went live on the Full Press Coverage website. 

My slightly self-indulgent point is twofold. Firstly, it gives me the opportunity to celebrate a milestone for myself, but more than that, it gives me the chance to thank all that have been there for me, helped and supported me. Not to mention be appreciative for those that I can now call friends, some of whom have carved out a very important place in my life. I have been shown such acceptance, generosity, and affection from so many people in relation to the team that I adore. 

I am honoured and humbled to be sitting here after five years writing these words to you lovely lot, THANK YOU!

Now, my more Patriot centric point is that this time five years ago, I had no idea where that first piece of fandom writing would get me. Had I managed to pull a Stewie Griffin and time travelled back to tell myself everything that would happen there’s no way I would have believed myself, even if I am pretty trustworthy!

And whilst I’m not much of a betting woman, (although when it comes to sandwich bets, things are a little different, just ask my co-host) I doubt many Patriots fans would have expected what the team went through in those last five years either. 

There has been a rebuild following the departure of the best quarterback to ever do it, the rebuild after the GM/Head Coach moved on, and the next man up was possibly prematurely promoted, to this one. The beginning of a new era with a head coach that has 11 years coaching in the NFL under his belt, a trio of offensive line coaches and an extensively experienced defensive coordinator who is known for his success developing defensive linemen. Oh, and did I mention a real and proper offensive coordinator?

So, okay, season one, week one, game one wasn’t completely successful. I doubt my first article was as polished and cheekily amusing as this one is… ahem, moving on…

Now, let me be clear here. As a fan you can feel and have whatever opinion you like, that’s your prerogative… I’m in no way attempting to tell you otherwise. What I am hoping to give is a little entertainment, the opportunity to thank the fan base I am so blessed to be part of, and mostly, to hopefully give you a little bit of a positive perspective. 

Yeah, the Raiders kinda had the Patriots’ number in the second half of that game, the rookies did some rookie things (imagine that huh?!?), and the coach is frustrated, stating they were too inconsistent on both sides of the ball to be successful. The quarterback dropped back aplenty, the kicker missed a field goal, and the defense let the Raiders score 20, struggling to stop two of the leagues really good tight ends from being wide open.

But may I reiterate, it’s season one, week one, game one?

They brought in some great free agency pieces, finally managed to draft better than probably my whole five years’ time as content producer put together, and have experienced coaches. Of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, there’s still plenty to get right, but they really do have things there that they can mould into the right stuff.

I mean, we are looking at a sample size of one. One regular season game for Drake Maye with Josh McDaniels, under Mike Vrabel with Stefon Diggs and so on.

A season is a marathon, not a sprint. New players need time to find their feet, new systems need time to click, and new people need time to develop relationships. Anyone ever go on a first date that wasn’t so great but saw the person again because they felt there was something there? I do hope so, and I’ll bet some of you are married to that person now too. 

Again, I’m showing, not telling here.

Even so, the fan base has warranted concerns, I just hope that if you felt super curmudgeon-y, I could transpose a little bit of positivity sparkle onto you, because hey, that’s what I’ve been trying to do for these last five years!

We have large expectations that stem from the epic history of this franchise, Pats Nation had it good for so long, and I truly believe we will have it good again, in time. In a time that is filled with instant gratification, we just need a little patience with the potential. 

And so, with a huge, massive thanks to you lovely lot for reading this, as well as consuming and supporting my content over the past five years, I say…

It’s on to Miami and as always, go Pats! 

Pats fans began their week with Mike Vrabel as their head coach, and whilst I know many of you lovely lot were much more enamoured with Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson, I was bubbling over with excitement. (If you managed to catch the latest episode of Pats Procrastination, link at the end of this article, you’ll see what I mean!)

And so, I thought I should take to my keyboard and drop a few tidbits of Vrabel notes on you, as well as gathering some interesting fan reactions. Maybe by the end of the article you’ll still feel glum and wish they had managed to entice Ben Johnson, or perhaps you’ll be as fizzy as the bottle of soda pop that I am!

Coach has already done a tonnage of interviews promoting the likes of treating players as they treat the team, providing a program that provides ownership (and their players) accountability of each other and one they’ll fight for, as well as galvanising the team, before already getting down to work on those coordinator hirings!

Many Patriots fans are kind of predisposed as Mike Vrabel fans from his days as number 50 on the roster. Starting his career in 1997, Vrabel was drafted in the third round and spent four seasons as a Pittsburgh Steeler before suiting up in Patriots blue. His eight seasons with the Patriots earned him that red jacket, and he was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2024, playing not only inside but also outside linebacker, and that wasn’t the end to Vrabel’s versatility. He occasionally lined up on the offense as a tight end (squeal!) with 14 targets for 10 receptions and 10 touchdowns in the regular season.

But let’s be fair, none of that is why we are sitting here with the confidence of him being a good coach. Everyone is entitled to, and should(!), fan their own way. For this fan, and probably many others, it is his coaching experience and successes that have us confident. 

Vrabel commenced his coaching career like many, at the college level, as linebackers coach for Ohio State. He then served as the defensive line coach for the Buckeyes for two seasons (2012-13). In 2014, he was hired by the Houston Texans as the linebackers coach, and was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Texans in 2017. 2018 saw Vrabel’s move to the head coach role with the Tennessee Titans on a five year deal, where he was awarded the AP Coach of the Year in 2021. At the end of the 2023 season he was dismissed from Tennessee following a 6-11 record. 

The 2024 season saw the NFL without the great Bill Belichick, and Mike Vrabel cooled his heels in a coaching and personnel consultant role with the Cleveland Browns, where it is said he gained more experience on the offensive side of the ball. 

And so here we are, 2025, the year of the Vrabel! Now, you may still not be convinced or even excited, and obviously that’s okay, but I hope that some of these fan comments, and perhaps my article, give you a little cause for positivity because being a fan can be tough stuff! But one thing is for sure, we are all in this together. Go Pats!

Die hard fan Mike Dussault 

Mike Vrabel has been the guy I wanted to replace Belichick since 2015 (check the PatsPropaganda archives!), he’s got the experience and the philosophy that the Patriots need to get them back on track, and he exemplifies everything his team should emulate… tough, smart and versatile.

Pats Procrastination co-host Chudders from Manchester

The Patriots have got their man; Vrabel

With Drake Maye, who’s proved he is able

With free agents to come

Then the draft will be fun

Another Lombardi is surely now on the table…..?

Tim from Rhode Island

I am very excited that Vrabel is the new coach, he brings instant credibility, experience, leadership, and direction to a team that lacked all those things last year.

Joel from Hull

I am very excited about Mike Vrabel being the coach of the Patriots. I think he brings a culture of accountability that the Patriots need at this juncture. Go Pats

Chris with a TIAN

Love the Vrabel hire! He brings swag and instant credibility. Certainly has his work cut out for him but he knows what it takes win championships.

Tom Shaw-Mellors

Mike Vrabel’s connection to New England is a happy coincidence, he’s a proven coach who has won in this league. He’s also a former NFL Coach Of The Year winner, I’m excited for sure! And mostly intrigued about which direction they go with the offense. LFG