Mike Vrabel takes page out of Bill Belichick’s coaching playbook (2025)

FOXBOROUGH - Bill Belichick loved putting his players on the spot.

In the past, there were countless stories about how the Patriots former coach would stop a meeting, and quiz players about some element of the game plan they were taught that week, some statistic about the opposing team, or even some lesson they were given weeks ago.

He enjoyed keeping the players on edge.

Judging by what newcomer Garrett Bradbury, the former Vikings center who was signed in free agency, had to say Thursday, which was echoed by running back Antonio Gibson, Mike Vrabel has taken a page out of Belichick’s book.

“A big thing I was told coming in, was Coach Vrabel will ask a bunch of questions in team meetings,” Bradbury said. “Like, you have to know your stuff, which I love.

“I think that if you have to be ready to answer any questions, whether it’s about rules, whether it’s about goals, whether it’s about individual plays, coaching points, I think everyone in that meeting room understands they have to be on top of their stuff. and when you do that, if you’re the left tackle, and you know what the right guard is going to do, you play faster.”

Players, who have been in town since Monday taking part in the team’s offseason program, are expecting Vrabel to quiz them on everything, just to make sure they’re listening, and retaining the message.

It’s happened already. Gibson said Vrabel laid out the goals for the team in his opening address Monday, and quizzed them Thursday on what they were.

“He asks lots of questions, just to keep us on our toes,” Gibson said. “You can see he’s super excited. You hear stories from players, he’s popping into everybody’s (position meeting) room. He can’t sit still for too long.”

Bradbury believes in the big picture, having all the players have an idea about everyone else’s job - to avoid being embarrassed by Vrabel in team meetings when he asks questions - is a plus, especially when it comes to understanding the playbook.

“When you know the whole system, the whole big picture ... now you know what the receivers have to do, or Coach Vrabel is up there talking about the defense and what they’re angles and their thought process, you see the big picture of the game,” Bradbury said, “and I think the faster you can play, the better you can play. So I think that’ll be good moving forward as a collective locker room and team meeting room where everyone knows everyone’s job so you can exploit weakness (of the other team).”