Mike Vrabel Named NFL Coach of the Year Before Super Bowl LX

SUPER BOWL BOUND: MIKE VRABEL NAMED NFL COACH OF THE YEAR

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has been named the NFL Coach of the Year for the 2025 season, the league announced Thursday at NFL Honors. The award comes just days before Vrabel leads the Patriots into Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, February 8th.

Vrabel secured 19 first-place votes, finishing with a total of 302 points. Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen finished second with 16 first-place votes and 239 total points, after leading the Jaguars to an AFC South title and a 13-win season. Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears placed third with eight first-place votes (191 points), followed by Seattle’s Mike Macdonald (one first-place vote, 145 points) and San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan (six first-place votes, 140 points).

This marks the second time Vrabel has received the honor, having previously won the award in 2021 while coaching the Tennessee Titans, where he led the team to a 12-5 record. He becomes the 14th coach in NFL history to win the award twice, and the seventh to achieve the feat with multiple teams.

Vrabel’s impact on the Patriots was immediate and dramatic. Taking the reins in 2025 following the departure of Jerod Mayo, he transformed a team that had endured consecutive 4-13 seasons into a Super Bowl contender. The Patriots finished the 2025 regular season with a 14-3 record, claiming the AFC East title and ultimately securing a berth in the Super Bowl.

Should the Patriots defeat the Seahawks, Vrabel would make history as the first head coach to win both the Coach of the Year award and the Super Bowl in the same season since Bill Belichick accomplished the feat in 2003. A victory would cement Vrabel’s legacy as the first individual in NFL history to win a Super Bowl as both a player and a coach for the same franchise. Vrabel won three Super Bowls as a player with the Patriots.

The recognition extends beyond the league’s official honors. Earlier this week, Vrabel’s former teammate, Tom Brady, named him one of his recipients for the LFG Coach of the Year award. Brady’s praise was particularly personal, highlighting Vrabel’s growth from a college player at Ohio State to a respected leader in the NFL.

“Vrabes, you’re like my brother,” Brady said. “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.”

Vrabel’s success in New England represents a remarkable turnaround for a franchise steeped in history. After years of dominance under Belichick and Brady, the Patriots faced an uncertain future. Vrabel’s arrival injected new life into the team, fostering a winning culture and restoring the Patriots to their position among the league’s elite. His ability to quickly adapt to a new organization and inspire his players has been a key factor in the team’s resurgence.

The upcoming Super Bowl LX presents Vrabel with an opportunity to cap off an extraordinary season with the ultimate prize. Facing a formidable Seahawks team, the Patriots will need to rely on the leadership and strategic acumen that earned Vrabel the Coach of the Year award. The game promises to be a compelling clash of coaching philosophies and talented rosters, with the stakes as high as they can be.

The award is a testament to Vrabel’s coaching ability and his impact on the Patriots organization. His ability to instill a winning mentality and maximize the potential of his players has been instrumental in the team’s success. As the Patriots prepare for Super Bowl LX, Vrabel’s leadership will be more critical than ever.