FOXBOROUGH – Since returning to town, Mike Vrabel has found time in his busy schedule to donate his time to various causes.
In between offseason camps and training camp, the Patriots coach has actively engaged in community outreach events and charitable endeavors, working hands-on with kids at the Special Olympics and Boys and Girls Clubs.
Vrabel conveyed the importance of being involved in causes, citing Tim Wakefield as an inspiration.
Vrabel’s pro career as a player in New England overlapped with the late Red Sox pitcher.
They won championships with their respective teams. And after retirement, became close friends.
Not long after Wakefield died, his wife Stacy shared a note with Vrabel that the knuckleballer had written. The message struck a chord.
“He knew he had cancer. He just didn’t know he was going to die before his wife,” Vrabel said. “It was like: ‘I’ve won a lot of games. I’ve got a lot of nice cars. But the impact we make on people is going to be what matters the most.’ And I think that’s a really good reminder from Timmy. I’ll carry that with me for a while.”
Stacy Wakefield died less than five months after her husband.
Vrabel saw firsthand the Red Sox pitcher’s devotion to the Jimmy Fund, and children with cancer.
The Patriots coach appreciates Wakefield’s legacy and also understands the impact he can have in people’s lives, whether it’s spending time with less fortunate kids or simply making a phone call to applaud someone who is also making a difference.
Wakefield’s message reinforced what Vrabel already held near and dear.
A few years ago, out of the blue, Vrabel reached out to Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips to congratulate him for being a 2023 nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award, which recognizes players for their community service and charity work.
When the Patriots were in Minnesota a few weeks back for joint practices, Phillips talked about how he was blown away by Vrabel’s gesture.
Why did Vrabel make the call to a stranger on another team?
“I just wanted to say he was doing good work,” Vrabel said. “He was working with the Special Olympics. And he was doing good work, and I wanted to let him know it didn’t go unnoticed.”
That week in Minnesota ahead of the preseason game, Vikings and Patriots players held a flag football event to support the Special Olympics.
Vrabel and Harrison took par. So did Drake Maye and several other Patriots players and coaches.
“I think we’re just very fortunate. We’ve been very blessed to get to do what we do,” Vrabel said. “There’s a lot of people who are less fortunate than us. And our impact on people is very critical.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
