Mike Vrabel's Patriots Are Super Bowl-Bound - And So Is That Infamous 2019 Promise
Mike Vrabel is back on the NFL's biggest stage - this time as head coach of the New England Patriots - and the moment isn't just stirring memories of his playing days. It's also reviving one of the more colorful quotes in recent football lore.
Back in 2019, during his time as head coach of the Tennessee Titans, Vrabel made an eyebrow-raising joke on the Bussin With the Boys podcast, hosted by former NFL players Will Compton and Taylor Lewan. When asked how far he’d go to win a Super Bowl as a coach, Vrabel quipped that he’d be willing to part with a very specific part of his anatomy.
“You guys will be married for 20 years one day,” he said at the time. “You won’t need it.”
Fast forward to 2026, and Vrabel’s Patriots are preparing to face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX. Naturally, Compton and Lewan - now podcast veterans - circled back to that infamous quote during Super Bowl media week. From their perch on Radio Row, they asked Vrabel if he was ready to make good on his tongue-in-cheek commitment should New England take home the Lombardi Trophy.
“I don’t need anesthesia,” the 50-year-old Vrabel deadpanned, before doubling down with another off-the-cuff remark that had the hosts in stitches: “I mean, I’d probably cut it in half… leave her six.”
It’s classic Vrabel - dry, self-deprecating, and fully aware of the moment. And while the comments are all in jest, they also reflect a coach who’s comfortable in the spotlight and unafraid to lean into his personality during a high-pressure week.
This isn’t the first time Vrabel has been asked to revisit his 2019 comments. Just over a week ago, he addressed the topic again on The Greg Hill Show on Boston’s WEEI. When asked if he was sticking to his original statement, Vrabel offered a slightly scaled-back version: “Maybe I’ll cut it in half, but I ain’t cutting the whole thing off.”
He added, “That was just to get that young fledgling group, Taylor and Will - get them to fly into the podcast game and it took off. I say a lot of things I don’t mean.”
Jokes aside, Vrabel is serious about the task ahead. He’s chasing his fourth Super Bowl ring with the Patriots - but his first as the man in charge.
He was a key part of New England’s early dynasty, helping the franchise capture titles against the Rams, Eagles, and Panthers. Now, he’s aiming to make history by becoming the first person to win Super Bowls with the same team as both a player and a head coach.
That’s rare air, even in a league defined by legacy.
The road ahead won’t be easy. The Seahawks enter the game as favorites, fueled by both a high-octane offense and a hunger for redemption after their gut-wrenching loss in Super Bowl XLIX. But Vrabel’s Patriots have shown grit and resilience all season long - two traits that tend to matter most when the confetti starts to fall.
As for that 2019 quote? It’s become part of the Vrabel lore - a reminder that while he may be all business between the lines, he’s never too far from a well-timed one-liner. And if the Patriots do hoist the Lombardi, you can bet someone will ask him - again - if he's ready to follow through.
But for now, Vrabel’s focus is exactly where it should be: winning football games. Because at the end of the day, jokes fade. Championships don’t.