Joe Mazzulla knows what winning looks like - and more importantly, what it takes to build a team that can get there.
In just four seasons at the helm of the Boston Celtics, Mazzulla has crafted a résumé that already includes a .722 winning percentage and a championship banner, thanks to Boston’s triumph over the Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals. That kind of success doesn’t happen by accident - it comes from building a culture, shaping an identity, and sticking to it through the grind of a long season.
So when Mazzulla was asked about the New England Patriots punching their ticket to Super Bowl LX, his response wasn’t just casual praise - it was the perspective of someone who understands the process behind the product.
“I think when you just take a look at it, they’re a team that’s developed an identity over the course of the season,” Mazzulla said Monday. “And every coach, regardless of the sport, is looking for that - creating that type of identity and consistency, and playing to that throughout an entire season. I think they’re a great example of that this year.”
That’s not just coach-speak. It’s a nod to one of the most fundamental truths in sports: talent gets you in the door, but identity keeps you in the fight. And what the Patriots have done this season - molding a cohesive, resilient team under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel - is exactly the kind of transformation that resonates with someone like Mazzulla.
The two coaches have built a solid professional rapport over the past year. Mazzulla visited Patriots training camp last summer, getting an up-close look at how Vrabel was laying the groundwork for his first season in charge. Vrabel, in turn, has made multiple appearances at Celtics games, showing support as both a colleague and a fan of the process.
It’s a cross-sport connection rooted in mutual respect - two leaders who understand the grind, the pressure, and the payoff of building something sustainable. Mazzulla sees in the Patriots what he’s tried to instill in the Celtics: a team that knows who it is, trusts the work, and shows up every night - or every Sunday - with purpose.
And now, with New England headed to the Super Bowl, that identity is paying off in the biggest way possible.