Things feel different for the New England Patriots entering the 2025 campaign. With Drake Maye looking like a budding star as a rookie, there’s reason to believe that the Patriots could be a sneaky wild card contender this upcoming season.

Of course, he’s not the only reason for optimism surrounding the team. Mike Vrabel has taken over as the Pats’ new head coach, and right from the get-go, he’s made it clear he wants to rebuild the culture in Foxboro, MA.

During his previous stint as a head coach with the Tennessee Titans, Vrabel’s teams played a hard-nosed, aggressive style of football, and it resulted in them emerging as a consistent playoff contender out of the AFC South.

That’s the sort of style Vrabel wants the Patriots to employ, and there have been changes for the players both on and off the field. When asked about those changes, Maye opened up on what things look like in New England with Vrabel in charge now.

“Just intensity,” Maye said on WEEI Afternoons. “Bringing it every day. Leaving your ego at the door and then from there bring [the intensity] onto the field. Finishing through the whistle. Doing the little things right.”

In 13 games last season, Maye threw for 2,276 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also rushing for 421 yards and another pair of scores. It may not seem like much, but considering the state of the Patriots’ offense last season, those numbers are actually quite impressive.

With an improved unit around him, the hope is that Maye can take a step forward in his sophomore season. It won’t matter, though, unless the rest of the team is improving right alongside him.