Mike Vrabel is the definition of a players' coach.
After every New England Patriots game, head coach Mike Vrabel greets each player in the tunnel.
On Monday (1/19), he explained why.
"Yeah, I've done this since 2018," Vrabel said. "These guys – this is a tough game. It's a physical game. They're beat up. They're banged up. I want to thank them. It's a good opportunity to see them.
"We may not have the opportunity to go around to see each and every one of them after the game, so I feel like that's a good chance to thank them and be appreciative of their efforts whether we win or lose."
In Vrabel's first season as head coach of the Patriots, the franchise is a Super Bowl contender. New England is one win away from reaching the Super Bowl for the first time in the post-Tom Brady era.
The Patriots face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. Vrabel is a three-time Super Bowl champion, so he's been here before.
"Just try to keep it all in perspective," Vrabel said. "I want them to enjoy everything about this, but we have to also embrace the preparation and everything that's required to get us to this point, and then being able to perform and being able to go on the road in a hostile environment.
"As far as messaging, I have some time until Wednesday to land the plane on that, but I'm sure it'll be pretty consistent with what we've done up until then."
The Patriots are favored to beat the Broncos, who will start Jarrett Stidham at QB. Bo Nix suffered an ankle injury against the Buffalo Bills and needs surgery.
Vrabel and the Patriots nearly signed Stidham in the offseason, so Vrabel knows the guy pretty well.
"I think he sees things really well," Vrabel said. "I think he's athletic enough to extend, like we talk about a lot of quarterbacks. Accuracy. I think the decision-making – he's really decisive in the games that we went back and watched. This is even going back to when I was in Tennessee as well."
If the Patriots beat the Broncos, they will face the Los Angeles Rams or Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl.
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