Patriots Face Familiar Foe in Derrick Henry - And Mike Vrabel Knows Exactly What’s Coming
FOXBOROUGH - The New England Patriots have a tall task ahead of them this week, and his name is Derrick Henry. The bruising Baltimore Ravens running back is one of the most physically dominant players in the NFL, and he’s been punishing defenses for nearly a decade. But as the Patriots prepare for their primetime showdown in Baltimore, they’ve got a bit of an inside edge - their current assistant coach, Mike Vrabel, knows Henry better than just about anyone.
Before joining the Patriots staff, Vrabel spent six seasons as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, where he and Henry formed one of the most feared coach-player duos in the league. From 2018 through the end of the 2023 season, Vrabel watched Henry up close - not just as a coach, but as someone who saw the daily work, the mindset, and the physical toll Henry put on defenses every week.
So when Vrabel was asked about what makes defending Henry such a challenge, he didn’t hesitate.
“It’s a huge challenge,” Vrabel said Wednesday. “He’s a very unique player.
Great speed, great power, strength. He’s just a different body type than what anybody would go against.”
That’s not coach-speak - that’s reality. At 6'3" and 247 pounds, Henry moves like a man half his size but hits like a freight train.
He’s not just big; he’s explosive. And when he gets up to full speed, defenders aren’t just trying to tackle him - they’re trying to survive the encounter.
Vrabel also pointed to the Ravens’ offensive scheme as a key factor in Henry’s continued success. “They do a very nice job with their scheme,” he said. “Different personnel groups, different run plan and styles of run, and different run actions.”
Translation: It’s not just Henry. It’s the way Baltimore uses him - mixing formations, disguising intentions, and keeping defenses off balance. That makes it even harder to key in on the All-Pro back, who can beat you inside with power or bounce it outside with surprising burst.
And while Vrabel is now on the opposite sideline, there’s still a deep respect between coach and player.
“He was very valuable to our success in Tennessee,” Vrabel said. “Me personally, I had a great relationship with Derrick.
He was always there. It seemed like when we needed a play, he made it.”
That’s not just nostalgia talking. Henry was the engine of the Titans’ offense during Vrabel’s tenure, and his ability to take over games - especially in the fourth quarter - became a signature of that team’s identity. Whether it was a 200-yard outburst or a demoralizing stiff-arm that went viral, Henry consistently delivered in the biggest moments.
“He’s a great teammate,” Vrabel added. “Anytime there was a message, he delivered that message in his own particular way. So again, he was somebody that I really valued in the six years I was there with him.”
Now, the reunion comes with a twist. Vrabel will be on the Patriots’ sideline, trying to help Bill Belichick’s defense do what few have done consistently - slow down Derrick Henry. And while Vrabel’s insight into Henry’s tendencies and mindset might offer a small advantage, it’s going to take more than familiarity to bring him down.
Sunday night’s matchup in Baltimore won’t just be a test of schemes - it’ll be a battle of will. The Patriots will need to bring everything they’ve got to contain Henry, who’s still running with the same fury he did in Tennessee.
And for Vrabel, watching his former star from across the field? That’s a full-circle moment - one that could have a major impact on how this game plays out.