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Before he became a coach, Mike Vrabel became known as one of the most physical linebackers in the NFL.
Earlier this year, Vrabel was appointed head coach of New England Patriots and reunited him with the franchise with which he spent eight seasons.
Vrabel controls the patriots through training camp, and while matches tend to break out into the violent weeks of training camp, coaches do not typically jump into the crisis.
Vrabel decided to bow that trend.
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New England Patriot’s main coach Mike Vrabel leaves the practice fields after MiniCamp at Gillette Stadium. (Eric Canha/Imag images)
On Wednesday, Patriots and Washington Commanders held a common practice at Gillette Stadium. At one point during the exercise, a tough tackle of Rookie, running back Treveyon Henderson, seemed to be stepped up to block passport protection, to be the rocking point of a possible scrub.
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Vrabel eventually tried to tackle the situation by taking the cases into his own hands and jumping into the pile. Once the tension was settled, the first-year Patriots coach appeared with a bloody face, the Boston Herald reported.
Patriots Quarterback Drake Maye was free for his coach’s persistence.
Mike Vabel, head coach of New England Patriots, leads his players during training camp at Gillette Stadium July 28, 2025 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townsson/Getty Images)
“That’s what we’re trying to build and it starts with the head coach – intensity, brings it every day, doesn’t take any shit when we’re out there on the field,” Maye said. “The mentality I like it. That’s what you want.”
Vrabel was later stained with a towel that appeared to contain ice in his face.
Main coach Mike Vabel of New England Patriots gets involved in practice as Quarterback Drake Maye (10) falls a handover to Trayveon Williams (49) during training camp at Gillette Stadium 29 July 2025 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townsson/Getty Images)
“Pass Pro is physical. It’s a physical game. Things happen out there,” said Maye. “There’s a time when you obviously don’t want to get out here and fight and get into trouble. At the same time you won’t return from no one. So I’m sure coach will preach that we can’t have it, but at the same time, kind of back of our minds, that’s kind of how we want to play – the intensity. When the whist goes, you have to play hard and when whistle stops, lets go.”
Maye added that Vrabel’s appearance reminded him of the attempted murder of one of President Donald Trump’s political collections in Pennsylvania last year.
“Someone said it was like the Trump shot,” Maye said, pointing to his ear.
Patriot’s tight end Hunter Henry suggested that Vrabel’s pysical nature is still part of him, even though he is no longer playing.
“He’s right there with us, man. I think the player is coming out in him too,” Henry said.
The short melee did not result in any player spraying from practice.
