December 8, 2025 • 10 mins
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel addresses the media on Monday, December 8, 2025.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Guys, great, did you miss us? Yeah, I did. We'll
find out in a second.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Karen, Mike, you played Buffalo last week five late and
how much has changed should stand or is it film
for that game still viable for you?
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Well, I mean, I think it's always viable.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
There's a lot that's changed, but I think you can
kind of see some of the you know, play styles, matchups,
you know, things that they you know, they may come
back to or things that we need to be more
prepared for, and then you know, kind of use that
(00:46):
as a place to kind of go from. And then
you know, again some of the things that they've done
really well, I'm sure they'll continue to do and add wrinkles,
and you know, it's a great challenge.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Like you emphasize nelset tea shirt team this week for your.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Team use a Hatton T shirt.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
We're just trying to play for the championship that we
have available this week, and I think it's a great
uh testament to to our players that put us in
this position to be able to do that. And again
that's it's not going to be easy. This is a
very good football team. There's a reason that they've won
this division five years in a row, a lot of
respect for him. You know, they're never out of it,
(01:27):
never down, and they may be down and just like
last week, you know, it's a football team that understands
that you know, somebody is going to make a play
and then they you know, the quarterback is going to
give them a chance to the very end.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
You're six and oho is.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
A head coach coming off the bat with Do you
understand me that it's different years, different teams, different.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Opponents all that.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Are there any sort of commonalities when it comes to
player focus?
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Well, I think that you know, these guys have played
well and that's the most.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Important thing is focusing on what we can realistically try
to improve and it kind of enhance the stuff that
we've been doing, okay with what we'll try to do
today and and I know these guys got some some
rest and much needed rest, and you know, but we've
got to crank this thing back up.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
It's in the bicycle. In the year, do you learn
just a little bit about yourself?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Self scaled?
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Or is the things that you look back on zo
you know this more?
Speaker 4 (02:29):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I mean, I think you kind of know by the
way that the season is going, but you know, it's
always a good time to take a take a look
at you know, what you've done and what they're looking at.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
Analytically and try to you know, figure.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Some of that out and and or just say hey,
we're we're this is a staple of who we are,
and this is what we're gonna do, and you know,
try to be good at it.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Like you mentioned, we start to buy that you're expecting
some players after this speak?
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Do you have me injury updates on players?
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Yeah, some of those guys made practice today. I think
for sure Wednesday, you know, some of those guys that
weren't available, and we'll kind of just see where they're
at today. But I think will be okay come Wednesday.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
My teams lie along rookies and ship went right in
the free joint process.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
They brought into solid group.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Mm hmmm.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
I think we'll get into the player evaluation and scouting
and principles and all that stuff later.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
You know.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
I think you just you have to rely on, uh,
you know, young guys at your draft. Hopefully you know
you can develop them and have them ready. You know,
some of them have played a larger role than others,
and some of them were kind of coming on, and
you know that they understand their role, that they have
confidence and continue to prove. I think by and large
(04:02):
the group has done that. We'll need, you know, a
lot of a lot more from them as we move on,
as we continue, especially this week, you know, and then
we can talk about, you know, how we target players
and things like that later mirror experience.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
As a player and the coach red zone offense.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
What are some of the common threads you've seen over
the years that make a successful red zone offense other
than obvious scoring touchdowns like what.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Recent Well, you have to have positive plays.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
You can't go backwards, you can't have penalties that derail drives.
Precision is critical.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
You know.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Precision is critical that you know space is limited. Things
happen so much quicker down there. So well, we'll have
to score and turn those opportunities in the touchdowns, and.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
We'll have to to do a better job defensively when
they do get down there.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Mike, when Drake was first drafted, there's a lot of
comparisons made to Josh Allen. Now that things have kind
of played out of it, do you see them being
more similar or dissimilar in how they approach the game.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
I think they're both really good at what they do.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
You know, Josh probably got a couple of LB's on them,
and you can kind of throw his his shoulder, and they're.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Probably a little bit more that I would rather want
Drake to But I think they're both great competitors. I
think they're.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Uh, you know, a lot of respect for Josh and
just his ability to make something out of nothing. I've
enjoyed watching Drake's growth here, but I'm not going to
say one's certain way and one's the other. I just
huge challenge going against the quarterback that's under control, he
(06:01):
has got command and just it doesn't look panicked or rattled,
and when you Russiam or get them into the right
play call and.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Whatever, that may be just a.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Excellent you know, obviously, MVP quarterbacks like you guys.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Are playing for a division championship this weekend. I'm curious, though,
you refer to your players, both of us and then
with them after the game one day as champions or
you know, you competed like champions champions.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
And are satisfied.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Why why use that word when referring to your teeth.
I think you're probably just reading too much into it.
You guys got too much time since the last time
we talked.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
I don't know, I apologize. I could call them something else,
but then you guys would yell at.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Me for using that language, Like there's.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
A bit of a weird one.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
But coming out of the by doing something kind of
league wide on the trend of teams posting after a win.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
That yeah, since you first became a lot of pressure.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Legim like, has it changed your minds at all?
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Going in there knowing that fans are gonna see.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Everything you do and say, well, they don't, I mean
we I get the final say you know what I mean,
Like Stretch can edit that to make it look as
good as you want.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
I think it's Here's what I do.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
I think that our content team does a fantastic job
and the content teams across the league to bring our
fans really great access something that's inside the locker room
as quickly as they can get that turned around, and
so I appreciate what they do.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
I think it's fantastic. You know, I don't give it
much thought.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Until I need to start thinking about it, because I
don't want to, you know, look ridiculous. I'm glad that
They've given me plenty of opportunities to have some excitement
in there that That's what I appreciate the most is
from the players giving us an opportunity, and then the
content team to continue to deliver really authentic content to
(08:06):
our fans.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Do you watch any other coaches and how they do it?
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (08:12):
No, I mean I'm not taking my shirt off. I
can promise you that No, I didn't. I've not I've
not practiced in the office. Coaches might not.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Care if the fans have access to that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Why is it important to you for the fans to
have with the coach? I mean, this is you know,
we we're in entertainment business. We we we that's it's
a large part of what we do.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
You know.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
I think that that's important that our fans have some
connection to our team to be able to come out
of here to training camp starting you know, in July.
I think that's important. I think it's important that that
our fans can come into the stadium and watch a scrimmage.
I think it's important that again they have things to
cheer about Sundays and when we play. I think it's
(09:01):
important that they see our players in the community that
not only as players, but but men trying to make
a difference in trying to make an impact and help.
So the more that we can do and the more
that we can share with our fans, the better.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
The strength of the wide receiver unit is the unit?
Why is it so important to spread of all around equits?
Speaker 3 (09:24):
And I think just you know, so that they can't
sit there and key on one guy or say, you know,
this is where it's going. And I think that's the
kind of the way that the group is built. You know,
some other years and may be different, but that's that's
what it is this year, and that's that's what I
think is best for us, and that's kind of what
it's proven to be. Just on those locker room moments,
(09:46):
I've heard you differentiate between motivate and inspire, and your
job is really the latter, not before.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Are those moments moments where you can inspire guys or
is that does that happen at a different time.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I don't know if that's very inspiring. I'm sure they're
looking to get a shower and get the hell out
of there. I would imagine that they want that short
and sweet. At least I would always.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Want that.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
You know that game day is a long day, starts early,
especially the night games. I try to, you know, there
are some things I say to them before and leading
up to the game, and that that plays out and
it plays true, and I try to remind them and
you know, thank them for understanding what it is we
(10:30):
are trying to get done.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Thanks, Thanks guys. Wednesday
Guys, great, did you miss us? Yeah, I did. We'll
find out in a second.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Karen, Mike, you played Buffalo last week five late and
how much has changed should stand or is it film
for that game still viable for you?
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Well, I mean, I think it's always viable.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
There's a lot that's changed, but I think you can
kind of see some of the you know, play styles, matchups,
you know, things that they you know, they may come
back to or things that we need to be more
prepared for, and then you know, kind of use that
(00:46):
as a place to kind of go from. And then
you know, again some of the things that they've done
really well, I'm sure they'll continue to do and add wrinkles,
and you know, it's a great challenge.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
Like you emphasize nelset tea shirt team this week for your.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Team use a Hatton T shirt.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
We're just trying to play for the championship that we
have available this week, and I think it's a great
uh testament to to our players that put us in
this position to be able to do that. And again
that's it's not going to be easy. This is a
very good football team. There's a reason that they've won
this division five years in a row, a lot of
respect for him. You know, they're never out of it,
(01:27):
never down, and they may be down and just like
last week, you know, it's a football team that understands
that you know, somebody is going to make a play
and then they you know, the quarterback is going to
give them a chance to the very end.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
You're six and oho is.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
A head coach coming off the bat with Do you
understand me that it's different years, different teams, different.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Opponents all that.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Are there any sort of commonalities when it comes to
player focus?
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Well, I think that you know, these guys have played
well and that's the most.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Important thing is focusing on what we can realistically try
to improve and it kind of enhance the stuff that
we've been doing, okay with what we'll try to do
today and and I know these guys got some some
rest and much needed rest, and you know, but we've
got to crank this thing back up.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
It's in the bicycle. In the year, do you learn
just a little bit about yourself?
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Self scaled?
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Or is the things that you look back on zo
you know this more?
Speaker 4 (02:29):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I mean, I think you kind of know by the
way that the season is going, but you know, it's
always a good time to take a take a look
at you know, what you've done and what they're looking at.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
Analytically and try to you know, figure.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Some of that out and and or just say hey,
we're we're this is a staple of who we are,
and this is what we're gonna do, and you know,
try to be good at it.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Like you mentioned, we start to buy that you're expecting
some players after this speak?
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Do you have me injury updates on players?
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Yeah, some of those guys made practice today. I think
for sure Wednesday, you know, some of those guys that
weren't available, and we'll kind of just see where they're
at today. But I think will be okay come Wednesday.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
My teams lie along rookies and ship went right in
the free joint process.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
They brought into solid group.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Mm hmmm.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
I think we'll get into the player evaluation and scouting
and principles and all that stuff later.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
You know.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
I think you just you have to rely on, uh,
you know, young guys at your draft. Hopefully you know
you can develop them and have them ready. You know,
some of them have played a larger role than others,
and some of them were kind of coming on, and
you know that they understand their role, that they have
confidence and continue to prove. I think by and large
(04:02):
the group has done that. We'll need, you know, a
lot of a lot more from them as we move on,
as we continue, especially this week, you know, and then
we can talk about, you know, how we target players
and things like that later mirror experience.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
As a player and the coach red zone offense.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
What are some of the common threads you've seen over
the years that make a successful red zone offense other
than obvious scoring touchdowns like what.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Recent Well, you have to have positive plays.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
You can't go backwards, you can't have penalties that derail drives.
Precision is critical.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
You know.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Precision is critical that you know space is limited. Things
happen so much quicker down there. So well, we'll have
to score and turn those opportunities in the touchdowns, and.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
We'll have to to do a better job defensively when
they do get down there.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Mike, when Drake was first drafted, there's a lot of
comparisons made to Josh Allen. Now that things have kind
of played out of it, do you see them being
more similar or dissimilar in how they approach the game.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
I think they're both really good at what they do.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
You know, Josh probably got a couple of LB's on them,
and you can kind of throw his his shoulder, and they're.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Probably a little bit more that I would rather want
Drake to But I think they're both great competitors. I
think they're.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
Uh, you know, a lot of respect for Josh and
just his ability to make something out of nothing. I've
enjoyed watching Drake's growth here, but I'm not going to
say one's certain way and one's the other. I just
huge challenge going against the quarterback that's under control, he
(06:01):
has got command and just it doesn't look panicked or rattled,
and when you Russiam or get them into the right
play call and.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Whatever, that may be just a.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Excellent you know, obviously, MVP quarterbacks like you guys.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Are playing for a division championship this weekend. I'm curious, though,
you refer to your players, both of us and then
with them after the game one day as champions or
you know, you competed like champions champions.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
And are satisfied.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Why why use that word when referring to your teeth.
I think you're probably just reading too much into it.
You guys got too much time since the last time
we talked.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
I don't know, I apologize. I could call them something else,
but then you guys would yell at.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Me for using that language, Like there's.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
A bit of a weird one.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
But coming out of the by doing something kind of
league wide on the trend of teams posting after a win.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
That yeah, since you first became a lot of pressure.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Legim like, has it changed your minds at all?
Speaker 1 (07:00):
Going in there knowing that fans are gonna see.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Everything you do and say, well, they don't, I mean
we I get the final say you know what I mean,
Like Stretch can edit that to make it look as
good as you want.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
I think it's Here's what I do.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
I think that our content team does a fantastic job
and the content teams across the league to bring our
fans really great access something that's inside the locker room
as quickly as they can get that turned around, and
so I appreciate what they do.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
I think it's fantastic. You know, I don't give it
much thought.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Until I need to start thinking about it, because I
don't want to, you know, look ridiculous. I'm glad that
They've given me plenty of opportunities to have some excitement
in there that That's what I appreciate the most is
from the players giving us an opportunity, and then the
content team to continue to deliver really authentic content to
(08:06):
our fans.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Do you watch any other coaches and how they do it?
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (08:12):
No, I mean I'm not taking my shirt off. I
can promise you that No, I didn't. I've not I've
not practiced in the office. Coaches might not.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Care if the fans have access to that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Why is it important to you for the fans to
have with the coach? I mean, this is you know,
we we're in entertainment business. We we we that's it's
a large part of what we do.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
You know.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
I think that that's important that our fans have some
connection to our team to be able to come out
of here to training camp starting you know, in July.
I think that's important. I think it's important that that
our fans can come into the stadium and watch a scrimmage.
I think it's important that again they have things to
cheer about Sundays and when we play. I think it's
(09:01):
important that they see our players in the community that
not only as players, but but men trying to make
a difference in trying to make an impact and help.
So the more that we can do and the more
that we can share with our fans, the better.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
The strength of the wide receiver unit is the unit?
Why is it so important to spread of all around equits?
Speaker 3 (09:24):
And I think just you know, so that they can't
sit there and key on one guy or say, you know,
this is where it's going. And I think that's the
kind of the way that the group is built. You know,
some other years and may be different, but that's that's
what it is this year, and that's that's what I
think is best for us, and that's kind of what
it's proven to be. Just on those locker room moments,
(09:46):
I've heard you differentiate between motivate and inspire, and your
job is really the latter, not before.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Are those moments moments where you can inspire guys or
is that does that happen at a different time.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I don't know if that's very inspiring. I'm sure they're
looking to get a shower and get the hell out
of there. I would imagine that they want that short
and sweet. At least I would always.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Want that.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
You know that game day is a long day, starts early,
especially the night games. I try to, you know, there
are some things I say to them before and leading
up to the game, and that that plays out and
it plays true, and I try to remind them and
you know, thank them for understanding what it is we
(10:30):
are trying to get done.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Thanks, Thanks guys. Wednesday
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