Vince Wilfork played with Mike Vrabel on the first wave of New England’s championship teams. The Patriots Hall of Fame nose tackle was also with the Texans when Vrabel coached Houston’s linebackers, before taking over as the defensive coordinator.
So Wilfork has a unique perspective on the Patriots new coach. Speaking with the Patriots legend on Monday while he made the rounds promoting his partnership with TUMS ahead of the Super Bowl, Wilfork gave a first-hand perspective on what the players should expect.
“First of all, they need to get ready to work. They need to get ready to put those cell phones down and focus on team first,” Wilfork said. “Then, make sure you love the game of football, because he’s going to demand it.
“One thing about Mike, he wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s very demanding. He’s going to tell you how he feels, he’s going to give you his opinion. He’s an alpha, he’s an A-hole, but he’s a good A-hole.”
Vrabel will test and push players and weed out the ones who aren’t committed to the team. He also won’t put up with anyone who’s top priority isn’t football.
“It’s football first. If you’re not willing to put football first, you’re in the wrong profession. You can’t be here,” Wilford said. “Trust me, they’re going to get that really quick how he rolls. I think we’ll see a different team in 2025. Absolutely, you will.”
While Wilfork has gone on record saying he didn’t like how things went down with Jerod Mayo, and being shown the door after one year, the two-time Super Bowl-winning Patriot believes in Vrabel and is certain he will succeed.
“I think he’s a great head coach. And he will be a great head coach for the New England Patriots. I can see him being there until he wants to leave if things go the way they’re supposed to go,” Wilfork said. “I basically played for him in Houston. And I played with him, beside him (in New England). So I got both aspects of him. But he’s always been a coach on the field, always. I knew that when I first met him.
“When we played and we’d get into situations, we never panicked, because he never panicked,” the former defensive lineman went on. “It’s like I had Bill (Belichick) or my defensive coordinator on the field, telling me how we’re going to adjust … like he was that good. He was a special, special player. That’s what makes him a great head coach and a great coach because he knows the ins and outs. And how he’s going to approach it.”
Along with his advice for Patriot players, pitchman Wilfork had one suggestion for people having Super Bowl parties: “Football and food go hand in hand … who don’t want to eat something because they’re afraid of indigestion or heartburn? So TUMS is the perfect match for all of those things.”
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