TRANSCRIPT: Mike Vrabel Press Conference 1/29
Mike Vrabel speaks to the media on Thursday before the team heads out to California this weekend.
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Here’s what New England Patriots head coach had to say during his press conference with the media on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
On the fact that Drake Maye was officially listed with a shoulder injury on the [injury] report yesterday and if he can share if that was something he was dealing with previously and re-aggravated?
“No, because then it would have been listed on the injury report before then.”
On what is his level of concern is on that:
“Not much. I try not to have a whole lot of concern. I just want to try to prepare the football team and make sure that everybody’s ready and that we all have a plan, and not to surprise anybody, and make sure that our guys are focusing on the first and second down plan. I know we’ve tried to map out the week here or week and a half, and not look at the end of it, but focus on what we can do today, try to learn our opponent, and be ready for first and second down.”
On not specific to Drake, but when it comes to a player who is injured at this time of year, what’s the balance of trying to figure out putting him on IR and gain the roster spot, or declaring him ‘out’ for the game:
“I think that that would happen much later on in the process. You would have to use your elevations and then whatever else we would need when we got to that point. I think that that’s something that would happen when we were in California.”
On if there’s ever a part of this week, when he was playing, how much did he have people take care of tickets, rooms for family, and things like that so he can take care of that now for the players:
“Well, again, we’ve got most of that finished. I think that the staff has done a fantastic job to help facilitate all that and those needs. And again, we want our players and our families that are important to us to enjoy this process. We have a responsibility to prepare for the game and for this opportunity. So again, our staff has done a fantastic job, and I’m confident that they’ll help our players if things come up throughout the week.”
On if he expects Robert Spillane to be out there today:
“I don’t think… I don’t anticipate Spillane being out there.”
On if he’s hoarse or sick or anything like that:
“I mean, I just yell a lot. It’s 21 weeks into the season. How do I look?”
You look good.
“Thank you. I appreciate it. I got excited in a meeting, I guess, this morning with the players. But this is my coaching voice.”
On if he has any thoughts about Bill Belichick not getting into the Hall of Fame the first time:
“I’m sure Bill will get in. I mean, again, that’s something that’s well out of my control. I know that the time here with Bill were eight great years, the teammates and everybody else that we had. I’m sure that Bill will get into Canton.”
On if prepping a team for a playoff run and a Super Bowl gives him an appreciation for what Coach Belichick did here when he was here, and does it inform him on how to go about this process:
“I think the record speaks for itself. My experience is, don’t give me any less or any greater affinity for Bill as a coach and somebody I played for.”
On if there’s something he learned about prepping for the Super Bowl as a player that he definitely wants to carry over to this week:
“Just try to remain focused on each day and not look too far ahead is something that we’ve tried to focus on. Just getting started today and trying to break the days up and how much they are working and when they’re off and the time that they’re going to have, but also focused on trying to keep the normal schedule as close to possible as we can make it.”
On the fact that he made an effort when he first got here to entrench himself with the scouting staff, and given how many rookies have participated in a big way and how many free agents have participated in a big way on the field in setting his culture, and so on, and how much that communication and that relationship building helped him:
“Yeah, that’s nothing different than anything that I’ve done as a head coach or as a position coach or as a … working my way into the building is, whether you’re the head coach, then you work with the general manager and the personnel department. I just think that me being around is important, having conversations with those guys. When I was a position coach, to be able to link up with the scouts, talking about post-draft or communicating with them. This is an open line of communication with our coaches and our personnel Department.”
On how he keeps himself so grounded in a big game like this , and if he’s looking for guidance from anybody that you …
“Anybody that I have come across that have had success in this game and just focused on today, really. I think more of that will probably hit once we get out there and get a little closer to the game. But we’ve gotten into a pretty good cadence here as far as being here and working. That’s what I’m focused on.”
On what, if anything, are they doing differently given Drake’s injury, either with preparation or rehab or anything like that:
“I think we’re going to operate as we normally would here on a Wednesday. Even though it’s Thursday, this is a Wednesday for us, and that’s kind of how we’ll approach it.”
On the fact Drake will be the second youngest quarterback to start in a Super Bowl, and what he’s seen from him in just his maturity level and ability to handle the big moment:
“I think it’s grown. I think just that as we’ve gone through this entire year in this program, and the more that he’s been out there, and the games have kind of built up on us, really, we’ve done a nice job in those situations. I think he’s improved in them, and he’s a big part of why we’re here, obviously.”
On the fact John Streicher is not a guy who gets a ton of publicity and what has Stretch helped bring to him and his staff this season:
“Well, just not only the staff, but the players. He makes a great connection with these guys, and they know that they can trust him with things that they may need to talk about. Same as with the staff, obviously. Keeps me in line and keeps me focused and keeps me constantly thinking about things that we should do. So again, it’s no secret how much he means to me, and he’s a large part of the reason why we’re here.”
On looking at the Rams and how they were one of the few teams that cracked Seattle for a lot of X-plays in their meetings, if there’s anything structurally, schematically, he feel like they might be able to steal for the Super Bowl:
“I think we’ll try to look at every single thing that we can that could potentially help us. But that’ll be critical, our ability to create some of those X plays that maybe we haven’t had as many of, and we’ve had in previous games. So that’s something, whether we hand it off, we’re going to need to gain some chunks, and if we throw it, we’re going to need to do the same.”
On this being his first year with Drake, what has he learned along the road here, that third down play the other day, the Baltimore drive, about his competitive spirit and his fire and passion to win:
“I think that comes out in numerous ways, and people see different things. You could be a yeller, a screamer, you could paint your face black and scream and yell with eye black and be a competitor, or you could be a little bit more laid back and still compete when the ball snapped. And I’d say that’s probably what Drake is. And then you guys get a little bit of a glimpse into how he is when he’s mic’d up.”
On the fact the half-time of the Super Bowl is longer, and how will he get his players to prepare and focus for them to come back out strong to win the second half:
“Again, that’ll be something we’ll focus on next week. I just don’t want to put a bunch of stuff and focus on a bunch of stuff today. But I think that that’s certainly something that we’ll address, and there’s a plan for that next week. Just don’t want to say, ‘Okay, this is everything in one day, in one meeting, that we want to focus on.’ More or less, just focus on the first and second down game plan today, and then we’ll continue to build. Then next week will give us a great opportunity to have that and have it planned out. Just like the pregame is different, it’s a little longer when we go out, when we come back in, the length of time that we have to be in the locker room. Those are things that we’ll obviously have to manage. The game will require a lot of mental and physical stamina. It’s a long game. It’s longer than normal, just with the TV timeouts and everything else that goes on with the game. Those are all things that we’ll address next week.”
On Drake’s scrambling and what he’s seen of his confidence growing throughout the season, and maybe stepping up, specifically in that last play, to get the first down:
“It’s something that we’ll have to continue to use. I think his judgment has been good. When you can move the ball down the field and throw it, obviously, that’s what we would like. Then when it’s not there, it gives us an advantageous look for him to be able to extend plays. We talked about remaining a passer or a thrower, but then there’s other times where he’s decisive, and he’s able to go north and south.”
On the fact he’s received a lot of contributions from first-year players and how big has that been for his team, in his experience, given how rare it is to have that many young players contribute:
“I think every year is different, Mark [Daniels]. I think just this year is probably a little different just with the amount of turnover. Certainly, we have had our rookies help us. There’s still things that they’re seeing and happening for the first time because they haven’t been out there that much. We’ll just have to try to continue to prepare them the best that we can. Then the other guys that we’ve brought in that were first-year players here that were new to our team, some of those guys are veteran guys.”
On the fact [outside linebackers coach] Mike Smith was someone hired that he didn’t have a direct personal working experience with, and what was the process like that led up to his hiring:
“I’ve known Smitty for a while. Just different people. Again, he’s close with some friends of mine and has worked with some great organizations. He’s been with Kansas City, and Green Bay, and Minnesota. He has a passion for coaching that position. Just like any other position, you try to get as many candidates as you feel that you’d like to interview and talk to, and then try to figure out what the best fit is.”
On how Terrell Williams is doing.
“He’s doing good. Thank you. He’s excited about traveling with us, and I appreciate you asking and doing well. We’re excited about having him.”
On how he feels heading into the Super Bowl as a first-year head coach here and just in general:
“The same way I answer it when people ask me how I feel, I feel as good as the players do. That’s what a coach does. He feels as good as the players do.”
On the last time he’s been to a Super Bowl since the last one that he appeared in as a player:
“Like, Actually went to the game?”
The game or the week, have you ever been to a Super Bowl?
“Well, I did go to the one time just so Stretch could get his award.”
On if he’s excited just to get back in the mix at such an event:
“Excited to be in the Super Bowl? Yes. I’m clearly excited to be in the Super Bowl.”
On the fact he was a first-year defensive coordinator eight, nine years ago, calling the plays and how much did that experience allow him to translate to Zak [Kuhr] and what he’s doing in his first year?
“Well, just try to… Again, the defensive staff does a really good job of collaborating, and there’s a really good flow and a connection in there about bringing everybody’s ideas together, but also helping Zak, and when we go in, and we talk about the game plan and the things that we want to do and the ideas. I think the biggest thing for a position coach, as I start to understand, is what can their players handle? What are they good at? And we have a good feel of that by now, obviously. But it’s also saying, ‘Hey, this may be too much,’ or, ‘Hey, this guy does this really well. Let’s try to focus on that.’ So the guys all are comfortable sharing those ideas. And I think that that’s been real positive and has helped Zak. But Zak has done a fantastic job. I’ve said that numerous times, and I know that he’s going to be prepared to help us win.”
On the fact there are some parallels between the 2001 team and this one. and if he sees any commonality between the two groups in any way, shape, or form:
“Like I said, Mark [Daniels], every year is different. That team, we lost to the Saints or to the Rams to go five and five, and won nine games after Thanksgiving in a row. There was no week off between the Super Bowl or the AFC Championship game and the Super Bowl. Every year is different, so I don’t necessarily… I’m just focused on what we’re doing now.”
On the fact that different players respond to different forms of motivation, and if he uses his position coaches or if they come to him and explain how their guys are operating and what’s the best way that their individual guys respond to certain forms of motivation:
“Again, I’ve been through this. I don’t know that players need to be motivated. I think they’re motivated. I hope it’s to win a Championship at the Super Bowl. It’s money. That’s fine. It’s professional football. Date the cheerleader, whatever motivates them. You know what I mean? That’s high school players, whatever motivates you, right? We’re trying to inspire them and give them confidence and trust in doing their job. So I used to think I needed to motivate them. I wanted to try to inspire them to do their job with confidence.”
On over the past week, the ‘Warriors,’ that movie was used maybe to form an identity in the locker room, and aside from that being a great film, why that movie:
“Because when we started this thing in Miami, I ran out of WWF clips to show them about the Road Warriors. So the next thing I could think of was that movie clip, and that’s what we went with. And it’s amazing what sticks. I didn’t think at the time that it would have stuck. But here we are in the end of January, and it’s still sticking.”
On if Mack [Hollins] is going everywhere with those bottles now?
“I mean, the first time, I think Frank [Piraino] emptied two soy sauces and a red hot bottle, and was walking around the building And I’m like, ‘What are you doing?’ And he was like, ‘Warriors.’ And I was like, ‘That’s a soy sauce.’ It’s like a soy sauce bottle and a Red Hot. And then Mack [Hollins] went out and found the… He said he studied long and hard. So I’m sure there’s bottles around here.”
On the fact he said that he noticed a difference in Christian Gonzales towards the end of the season and how that has shown up on the field:
“There’s just a presence, I feel like. Again, not that there was anything, I’m trying to not make this, that there was wrong. I just felt him. I just felt when he blitzed, when he covered, when he… Maybe it was just me, but I got a pretty good seat for some of these games. And so I just felt him start to continue to impact at a greater level. You heard him, you saw him, and obviously, his play. So that’s no secret that we’ll need him to play well as well as the rest of our other good players.”
On when he’s trying to forge a team’s identity, whether it’s shown the clips he mentioned or the movie ‘Warriors,’ how much of it was him trying to put it out there, and how much is organic in the moments that happened that made the team …
“Probably just organic. I think maybe it didn’t start in Miami. Maybe it was on that three-week stretch when we went on the road three weeks in a row, and that’s … just figured I’d give it a try and see what happened.”
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This transcript was done based on the available footage and is subject to typographical errors. If you spot anything, please let me know in the comments below.)
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