Mike Vrabel is creating a clean slate for the Patriots in 2025 and isn’t thinking about their 4-13 season from last year.
“We’re building our own identity, OK?,” the coach told his team in the first episode of “Forged In Foxborough.”
In his first year coach in New England, Vrabel is focused on making sure the Patriots reach their goal.
“The overriding goal for the program that we’re going to build is going to be to win the division,” Vrabel said.
The Patriots haven’t won the division since 2019.
This mirrors what Vrabel said during his introductory press conference earlier this year when he said he not only wanted to win the AFC East, but wanted the Patriots to host home playoff games.
It’s been a difficult transition for New England post-Tom Brady. The team has struggled on both sides of the ball and hasn’t been able to find a groove. They’ve missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons.
Things looked hopeful under Jerod Mayo in 2024 — who took over for Bill Belichick after over two decades of dominance. But it was more of the same from previous years and the Patriots — for the second straight year — finished 4-13.
But Vrabel isn’t looking in the rearview mirror.
“Why the (expletive) would I care about what happened last year?,” he said. “I’m worried about what’s going to go right today and tomorrow and the next day. We’re not worried about what went wrong. We’re focused on what’s going to go right.”
There are reasons to be optimistic heading into the 2025 season. Drake Maye, who was a bright spot in 2024, enters an important Year 2 with Stefon Diggs on offense and 2025 No. 4 pick Will Campbell will add some much-needed protection for the quarterback.
Vrabel stressed that he didn’t care how those in the room have been coached prior to this season, he and the rest of the coaching staff wants to be along for the ride and help them become the best players possible.
“We’re going to be along on the journey,” Vrabel said. “There are going to be some ups and downs, but that’s the whole goal of what we’re trying to do — going along on this journey with you guys to get more out of you than what you guys think.”
The Patriots schedule doesn’t seem too formidable, and with a revamped defense and added help on offense, Vrabel could see improved success from 2024 to 2025.
