Robert Kraft certainly has no regrets over hiring Mike Vrabel to coach the New England Patriots.
Vrabel vastly transformed the franchise’s fortunes in his first season, leading New England to a 14-3 record after consecutive 4-13 seasons under Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo. The Patriots will pursue their seventh Super Bowl title when they host the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round.
Kraft celebrated Vrabel’s success before the playoff matchup on ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown.”
“Think what our record was last year, and it’s reversed this year,” Kraft said. “He has grown and matured in a way — he always had that hard side to him, which made him such a great player. But he’s been amazing with the culture in the locker room, how he has been able to connect.”
Kraft noted that the Patriots won an AFC East title and first-round playoff game with no first-team All-Pro players. He credited Vrabel for fostering an unselfish locker room that has fully bought into the former Super Bowl champion linebacker’s message.
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“It’s the hardest thing with a team to get everyone to put team first and their own personal records in the background,” Kraft said. “He’s done that, and they really feel connected to him.”
Vrabel can continue his superb first season by steering the Patriots to the AFC Championship Game. Sunday’s showdown against the Texans kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC.
