Joe Mazzulla knows a thing or two about building a winning culture - and he sees it happening right down the road in Foxborough.
The Celtics head coach gave a nod to Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel on Monday, just a day after New England clinched its spot in Super Bowl LX with a gritty win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. Speaking before Boston’s matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers at TD Garden, Mazzulla praised the Patriots for something every coach, in any sport, is chasing: identity.
“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. “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 identity didn’t just appear overnight. It’s been forged through adversity, discipline, and a clear vision under Vrabel’s leadership.
The Patriots started the season 1-2, and at that point, few would’ve pegged them as a Super Bowl team. But since then?
They’ve dropped just one game - finishing the regular season at 14-3 and steamrolling their way through the playoffs, knocking off the Chargers, Texans, and Broncos.
A big part of that identity? Dominating on the road.
New England went a perfect 9-0 away from Gillette Stadium - the best road record in NFL history. That kind of consistency and toughness away from home speaks volumes about a team’s mindset.
They don’t just survive in hostile environments - they thrive.
Mazzulla and Vrabel have built a mutual respect over the past year. Shortly after Vrabel took the Patriots job, Mazzulla invited him to a Celtics practice at the Auerbach Center. Later that summer, Mazzulla returned the favor, attending a Patriots training camp session - something he’d done under both Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo as well.
“Joe is fantastic,” Vrabel said at the time. “I appreciate him, just from the time I got here, reaching out.
We probably have different personalities, and I think that’s probably the thing I appreciate the most about him. He’s always trying to learn and gain knowledge different ways - about building a team, about strategy, about scheme, about inspiring players to do their job well.
So I always love my conversations with him.”
That mutual curiosity and shared pursuit of excellence is what connects great coaches, regardless of the sport. And right now, both Mazzulla and Vrabel are leading teams that are locked in, battle-tested, and chasing championships.
Fittingly, Patriots owner Robert Kraft was in the house at TD Garden on Monday night, drawing a loud ovation from the Boston crowd. Celtics owner Bill Chisholm also got some love from the fans, flashing a bit of flair with an “I love Drake Maye” shirt - the heart swapped out for a shamrock, of course.
The Patriots now set their sights on Santa Clara, where they’ll take on the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on February 8. It’s a heavyweight showdown, and if New England’s identity holds strong, they’ll be a tough out - no matter the stage.