The New England Patriots may not have secured any championships yet, but discussions surrounding potential titles are already heating up in the region. With a strong 8-2 record to start the season, the spotlight is on their talented sophomore quarterback, Drake Maye, who is in contention for the regular season MVP award. Analyst Greg Olson has also voiced his support for Mike Vrabel, the head coach of the Patriots, suggesting he should be a frontrunner for the 2025 Coach of the Year award.
Olson, a former tight end who has transitioned into broadcasting and analysis, emphasized the impressive turnaround orchestrated by Vrabel. “There”s a lot of people saying that they are going to win the Super Bowl; I”m not there yet,” Olson stated. “I think they are a great story, and I think Drake Maye finds himself as one of the top three guys in the MVP race. I think Vrabel is the front runner by a large margin. It”s not so much that they are good, it”s how fast they”ve gotten good. That”s what gives Vrabel the edge, in my mind, just how well he”s turned around a team that has struggled for multiple seasons prior to his arrival.”
In the previous two seasons, the Patriots managed to win only eight games combined, but under Vrabel”s leadership, they have matched that total in just two and a half months. As they head into Week 11 as -11.5 point favorites against the New York Jets, this season is shaping up to be their most successful since the exits of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Should they defeat the Jets and secure one more win later in the season, it would mark their first 10-plus win season since 2021 and only their second since 2019.
The statistics clearly illustrate the dramatic improvement Olson referenced, and if this trend continues, it will bolster his prediction regarding Vrabel”s candidacy for Coach of the Year. However, it is crucial to note that there are still numerous games left to be played. With formidable opponents like the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills on the horizon, there is ample opportunity for the narrative surrounding the Patriots to shift.
Nonetheless, if Vrabel can lead his team to victories against these significant AFC rivals, his case for recognition will be nearly irrefutable. As is customary in the NFL, the most critical games will unfold in December, keeping fans engaged as the playoff picture takes shape, even for those whose teams may already be out of contention.
