Patriots Defense Has a Mike Vrabel Problem

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The New England Patriots’ defense has a Mike Vrabel problem.

Expectations are high for a New England Patriots defense reloaded with premium talent during 2025 NFL free agency, but neither history nor new head coach Mike Vrabel are on the unit’s side.

That’s because although Vrabel’s background is steeped in defense, he’s often failed to showcase his expertise on this side of the ball as a coach. The worrying trend was explained by Sheil Kapadia of The Ringer, who pointed out “Vrabel’s reputation as a defensive mastermind probably outpaces his actual track record. In six seasons with the Titans, Vrabel produced an above-average defense just once.”

It’s a curious disparity for Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as an outside linebacker in New England. He then got his start in the coaching ranks as a linebackers coach at Ohio State, en route to becoming defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans in 2017, when his unit ranked last in the NFL for points allowed, per Pro Football Reference.

While the former Tennessee Titans head coach’s defenses weren’t often better, usually hovering around average, the Patriots can still feel confident about significant improvement. Especially when pretty much the only way they can go is up after last season’s miserable showing.

Mike Vrable Has a Lot to Prove

The Patriots already know the folly of handing the keys to the kingdom to one of their former linebackers and expecting defensive excellence. It didn’t work when Jerod Mayo replaced Bill Belichick as head coach last season.

Mayo’s defense “was a bad group last year (30th in DVOA), and while it felt like the Patriots defense got crushed by injuries, FTN had them with just about league-average injury luck,” according to Kapadia.

Put more simply, the Patriots ranked 22nd in both points and yards allowed. Vrabel won’t want to see a repeat of those rankings, but nor will he be happy with the kind of numbers he saw in Tennessee.

The Titans ranked eighth for yards and third for points in Vrabel’s first season in 2018, but that was as good as things got. His defenses only ranked in the top-10 for points once across the next five seasons, when the 2021 group was sixth, while none of those units placed higher 12th for yards allowed.

Vrabel is counting on the arrival of a highly-regarded defensive coordinator he knows well, along with a scheme change, to yield better results for the Patriots. It’s a decent bet, but there have already been mixed signals about whether the Pats will ditch the 3-4 they played for years in favor of a more active four-man front.

Any confusion about Vrabel’s plans for his defense could already be impacting players, including a talented holdover who’s been relegated to a reduced role.

Patriots Defense Already Changing in Big Ways

The Patriots spent big money to beef up both ends of their defense, with $104 million defensive tackle Milton Williams the prized asset. Yet, the ex-Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl winner has described a tough time adjusting to what Vrabel wants.

Williams isn’t the only lineman struggling to get to grips with a new system. Versatile edge defender Keion White, who always seems to be a breakout candidate, has been dealing with a demotion of sorts.

To his credit, White doesn’t mind being forced to work to prove his worth. He’s saying the right things, but White faces a real battle to play ahead of a $48 million Vrabel favorite, as well as fellow newcomer K’Lavon Chaisson, who has impressed throughout this offseason.

Chaisson and Williams are part of the new contingent of veterans the Patriots are counting on to restore their toughness on defense. Similar impact is expected of $54 million cornerback Carlton Davis III.

The Patriots have spared no expense to get better defensively, so Vrabel will be out of excuses if this season’s unit isn’t a force.

James Dudko covers the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens for Heavy.com. He has covered the NFL and world soccer since 2011, with bylines at FanSided, Prime Time Sports Talk and Bleacher Report before joining Heavy in 2021. More about James Dudko