Mike Vrabel Named 2025 NFL Coach of the Year After Transformative Season with Patriots
Mike Vrabel is back on top. The Patriots' head coach has officially been named the 2025 NFL Coach of the Year, earning the honor for the second time in his career-and this one might be even sweeter than the first.
Vrabel edged out a competitive field of candidates, finishing with 19 votes to beat out Liam Coen (16), Mike Macdonald (8), Kyle Shanahan (6), and Ben Johnson (1). It’s a testament not just to wins and losses, but to the culture shift and competitive edge he brought to Foxborough in just one season.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Just a year ago, Vrabel was on the outside looking in-fired by the Titans after a six-year stint that included a 52-41 record, three playoff appearances, and a Coach of the Year award in 2021. He spent 2024 as a personnel consultant with the Browns, a role that kept him in the game but far from the sidelines.
Then came the Patriots' call.
Taking over a franchise in transition, Vrabel wasted no time imprinting his identity on the team. In his first year at the helm, New England posted a 14-3 regular season record and went a perfect 3-0 in the playoffs. That’s not just a turnaround-it’s a reawakening.
Vrabel’s coaching journey has always been marked by grit and adaptability. After a 14-year NFL playing career as a linebacker with the Steelers, Patriots, and Chiefs, he started coaching linebackers at Ohio State in 2011. From there, it was a steady climb: Texans linebackers coach in 2014, defensive coordinator by 2017, and Titans head coach in 2018.
Now, at 50, he’s come full circle-back in New England, where he once helped anchor a dominant defense as a player, now leading the charge from the sidelines.
What makes this Coach of the Year honor particularly impressive is how quickly Vrabel turned things around. The Patriots weren’t just winning-they were playing disciplined, physical football with a clear identity.
That’s the Vrabel effect. His teams don’t beat themselves, they play with purpose, and they show up when it matters most.
This year’s voting totals reflect just how tight the race was. Coen and Macdonald both had strong cases, leading impressive runs of their own, but Vrabel’s combination of regular season dominance and postseason poise ultimately pushed him over the top.
It’s rare to see a coach make this kind of impact in Year 1 with a new team. But with Vrabel, it’s not entirely surprising.
He’s always been a leader-on the field, in the locker room, and now on the sidelines. And if this season is any indication, the Patriots might just be getting started.