Mike Vrabel

A defensive leader who became a Super Bowl scoring threat by lining up as a tight end.

Mike Vrabel served as a cornerstone of the New England Patriots' first dynasty from 2001 to 2008. Originally selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers, he joined New England as a free agent and became an eight-year regular starter. While primarily a linebacker in the team's 3–4 scheme, Vrabel gained legendary status for his unique role as an eligible receiver. He earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors in 2007 after a season where he forced three fumbles, recorded three sacks, recovered an onside kick, and scored an offensive touchdown against the Washington Redskins.

Quick Facts

Current team: New England Patriots
Position: Head coach
Born: 14 August 1975
Birthplace: Akron, Ohio, U.S.
High school: Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio)
College: Ohio State (1993–1996)
Draft year: 1997
Draft round: 3

Lore & Background

Vrabel's positional flexibility was born out of necessity and exploited with genius. In 2005, due to limited effectiveness from inside backers Monty Beisel and Chad Brown, he moved to inside linebacker despite never playing the position in the NFL before. Rosevelt Colvin filled his old spot, a change cited as vital to the Patriots' rebound. Later that year, after Junior Seau suffered a broken arm, Vrabel moved back inside again.

His most famous moments came on offense; during Super Bowl XXXVIII against the St. Louis Rams, he caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the fourth quarter. This made him the first defensive player to score a Super Bowl touchdown on offense since William "Refrigerator" Perry in 1986. The following year, in Super Bowl XXXIX against the Philadelphia Eagles, he again caught a two-yard touchdown despite being held by Jevon Kearse. Across his career with New England, he caught one touchdown in 2002, two in 2004, three in 2005, and two in 2007.

Reader's Guide

Fans looking to understand Vrabel's impact should focus on his transition from the Pittsburgh Steelers to New England. Selected 91st overall in the 1997 draft, he spent four seasons in Pittsburgh, where his most notable play was strip-sacking Drew Bledsoe in the 1997–98 AFC Divisional Playoffs to clinch a 7–6 victory. Upon joining the Patriots as a free agent in 2001, he started 12 games immediately and remained a regular starter for eight years.

His defensive stats included 15 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery in his final season with Pittsburgh (2000). With New England, he won three Super Bowl titles and was named to the Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro team in 2007. He played every game on defense during his first four seasons with the Patriots, starting in 12 of them, before evolving into a multi-dimensional asset who could line up as a tight end or inside linebacker depending on the game situation.

Did You Know?

Vrabel caught two touchdown passes in Super Bowls, making him one of only 17 players to achieve this feat.
In 2005, he became the first player since 1982 to record two offensive touchdowns and a sack in the same game.