Mike Vrabel

Verified Timeline

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.

In Their Own Story

The defining moment of Vrabel's versatility occurred on December 26, 2005, during the final Monday Night Football game on ABC. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he became the first player since official sack recording began in 1982 to record two touchdown catches and a sack in the same game. His offensive contributions were not limited to regular-season games; he caught one touchdown pass in Super Bowl XXXVIII and another in Super Bowl XXXIX. In total, Vrabel finished with 12 career receptions on just 16 targets, all resulting in touchdowns. He caught two more as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009 and 2010, thrown by former Patriot Matt Cassel. Additionally, he recorded his only career defensive touchdown on an interception return during the 2005 season. His ability to switch roles seamlessly allowed Bill Belichick to utilize him as a red-zone weapon, culminating in NFL Network ranking him seventh on their Top 10 list of Most Versatile Players 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.
• He moved from outside linebacker to inside linebacker in 2005 despite never playing inside in the NFL prior to that season.
• Vrabel scored an offensive touchdown in Super Bowl XXXVIII, becoming the first defensive player to do so since William "Refrigerator" Perry in 1986.