PATRIOTS HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL

PRESS CONFERENCE
October 15, 2025

Q: Six weeks into the season, how affirming is it for you to be in first place in the AFC East heading into Tennessee?

MV: Well, that didn't take long. Well, they're not going to cancel the rest of the season, and that's not really our focus right now. But I would say that we've done – we've put ourselves in a position to play meaningful games – not that they aren't all meaningful, but certainly focusing on this one on the road. Our last one of three here. And I appreciate us not looking too far ahead. They just attacked Buffalo, they figured out what we needed to do against the Saints and then we got back, got things cleaned up and tried to get some rest. Now focusing on Tennessee and the challenge that that presents. Seeing if we can't continue to enhance the things that we do well, improve the things that we're not doing well and then eliminate the stuff that could or will or has gotten us beat.

Q: Mike, what has this team done well for you? Obviously physically, football is like that, but mentally, what has this team done well for you?

MV: I think that they try to come in with the same approach every week. What did we do well? What do we have to improve on? Try to learn a new opponent. Try to build a routine, a consistent routine. Try to practice, really have the energy and the speed required to not only improve but to prepare for another opponent that's different. Everybody's been ready to go. Try to get ready to prepare as a starter every week, no matter who it is.

Q: Mike, a midstream coaching change can, I would imagine, cause a little bit of uncertainty as to exactly how Mike McCoy might approach things differently from the way Brian Callahan has. And it can always, I think – we've seen over the years, sometimes a team can get a bump from that type of thing.

MV: Yeah, I mean, we'll have to be prepared for everything. There's a lot of fakes in the history with the coordinator. May go for it more on whatever situation. I just think we'll have to be prepared for whatever that may be. Whatever wrinkles, the things that Mike liked or didn't like, that's going to be his prerogative, and we'll have to be prepared for whatever it is, try to execute the keys and try to – all the things that we feel like are important each and every week. So, there's no way to know. You can watch the tape, understand some of the players, the play style and however they call the game, they'll call the game.

Q: What have you guys seen from Cam Ward as a rookie quarterback?

MV: Quick delivery to be able to get it out of his hand when he decides. I thought that there was some really good accuracy, some ball placement that allows for good run after catch. I think there's a willingness to stand in there. He's got contact courage. I don't see him staring at the rush a lot. Has the ability to scramble when need be and scramble for first downs. Doesn't look like he's very rattled. I think that his composure is very good and his demeanor. And, again, I saw a quote from him in preseason that said he watched his dad get up for a job at 4:30 a.m. every morning that he didn't like, and he figured he could get up that early for one that he did. I think that's just a good reminder for all of us that someone that young could say things that mature. So, again, I think that that's a good approach to his job.

Q: You guys will be facing Jeffery Simmons this weekend. What was your experience coaching him, and was there any ways that he made you better as a coach, just a player that talented and effective?

MV: Well, yeah, great players make good coaches. I really enjoy Jeffery personally. We've maintained a relationship. I'm glad that we do. He's playing really well, playing at a high level. He plays hard. He's got great play demeanor. Plays a lot of snaps, but he doesn't – the ones that he's in there for, which is a lot, it's not like he picks and chooses when he's going to play hard. But also, I felt like he always shared the message from us to the staff, to the locker room. I think he was a good leader for us. It'll be a huge challenge here this week for us to be able to block him, to neutralize him and try to gain some yards.

Q: After the last game, in the video the Patriots posted, you said, "Give every one of them a ball." I'm just curious why you said that and also just how you feel the culture –

MV: It was the quickest thing I could do to get us out of there and get back home. Instead of go down the list of Drake Maye, Kayshon Boutte, Marcus Jones. We recognize all those guys, but it feels like a team win. I mean, back and forth, the defense stepping up and guys making plays in the second half to help us. Christian Elliss, who put so much into it, hammered a football out. Schools [Brenden Schooler] continuing to factor on special teams again, but now we're on to the next week. Just wanted to try to get out of there as soon as we could to get back home to try to get some rest and to get on to this week.

Q: Mike, I heard general discussion this week about running backs in general and quickness versus speed. Where does your running back group stand with quickness and speed? And what do you think is more important, quickness versus speed?

MV: I just tell them run where they ain't. And that's the only way that I know how to coach them, is to tell them to take care of the ball. I think that speed, obviously, is a relative, is a distance. Quickness may be being able to change direction without having to take too many steps. Being able to put your foot in the ground and either jump cut or get downhill, whatever that may be. Whatever the play style is, whatever the skill set is for each player, it's important that they own it and they make them their own. Derrick Henry, for example, wasn't the quickest player, but he had speed. And so, again, we tried to emphasize that for him and not make him think that he had to play like a certain back that had a different play style.

Q: Mike, is it true that you reached out to Brian Callahan this week?

MV: Is that true? Yeah, sure, of course I did. I mean, I don't want to see anybody that shares a job with you get let go. That's a tough feeling with family and school. Whether it's in college or pro, we're in the media every single day. And there's a human element to this that I don't want to forget. I just remember all those coaches or people that reached out after I was let go. I think that that's important because nobody texts when you lose, they all text when you win. So, it's a good reminder.

Q: Mike, when you were let go, I'm sure it stung a lot. When you look at where you are now, are you kind of grateful of the way things have worked out?

MV: Well, I'm grateful for another opportunity and being here. I love coaching, love being here and everything else. I'm just grateful for Kevin [Stefanski] and Andrew [Berry] and the Haslams for having me in Cleveland. And you just hope that if you get another shot, another opportunity, like we tell our players, be ready for it and take advantage of it.

Q: You said that you keep in touch with Jeffery Simmons. I think you said something in the past about other players, too. What's that look like? Just kind of checking on the family, checking on how they're doing?

MV: How they're doing, thank them for what they did while we were together and helped me be a coach. Whether they have a good game or there's something going on or whether they had a something happen in their life or there was some adversity or something positive. I mean, no different than you would anybody else that you had a relationship with.

Q: Mike, when you heard the news that Brian had been fired this week, what was your reaction and were you surprised?

MV: I just had a focus here. And again, the surprises in our business shouldn't be surprises. Things happen in this league, and that's a decision that they made. I didn't have a particular reaction to it other than trying to get ready for the game on Sunday.

Q: Mike, you're still three weeks, basically, from the trade deadline. But I'm curious, given where you guys sit in the standings and how you've played, if that at all impacts how aggressive you'll be in trying to acquire talent.

MV: I don't know if that has a bearing on it. I think we'll just continue to try to strengthen the roster each and every day. Sometimes those are small moves, maybe bigger ones. But I don't think that, right now, those conversations are centered around what our record is currently. I don't think that that's something that really bears into it. We're building something. And if any of those things can help us build and strengthen us and allow us for long-term, consistent success, then I think that's what we should try to do.

Q: Mike, I know you said on Monday that some things are important and other things are interesting. Do you also talk to the players about that sort of thing, knowing that they could get amped up for you, specifically, to try to win this game in Tennessee?

MV: Yeah, we're not trying to win one for the Gipper here. We're just trying to make sure that these guys are focused on improving, and I think that they are. I think they're locked in. And hopefully we can get them as prepared as we possibly can between now and Sunday.

Q: Mike, how do you feel like you've grown as a coach and a person based off your time in Tennessee?

MV: You guys always ask me the same question, like some reflective question. You try to learn every day. You try to learn. Don't forget how important and critical the relationships are with the players, how important the players are to this thing. I think building a program of people that believe in a common goal, that want to try to support the program that we're building in positive ways, help them grow. How do I support them? How can we develop them? How can we develop young coaches, young players, young scouts and everything else?

Q: Being your second time, how much has this affirmed you wanting to be a head coach and enjoying being a head coach after what you went through?

MV: I mean, it's hard to enjoy it. Admittedly, I think it's hard to enjoy it. I knew once I got to Cleveland that there was – I was sure that nothing else I wanted to do than to have another opportunity if I could get it. And I think you have to try to find different ways to enjoy it. And the good and the bad, having been through both.

Q: How do you see the quarterback's role in terms of helping your team establishing the run?

MV: Yeah, I think that's a great question. I had that conversation with Drake on Monday, and his encouragement and how he can continue to encourage a group of linemen, players that line up in front of him that have done a fairly good job of protecting him. We know how important and critical that is, but also explaining, encouraging and also keeping everybody on the same page as we come up. We have our different ID system that we're working to and making sure that everybody's on the same page. Making sure that the call is clean and making sure that the run alert is the one that we want to get to. And so, the quarterback can have a critical role in the run game. It takes all 11 and certainly starts with the quarterback.