Here’s what New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel had to say during his press conference on Thursday, June 11th, 2026.
On, since this is the last day, I don’t know if it’s the last day for the players, but there’s going to be obviously a gap of time until training camp, and if he has a message for them:
“Well, yeah, I mean, I always have messages for our players. I think I’ve told you this last year and in the past, and those weeks from the end of their time here until training camp are some of the most important days of the entire season. And that’s just what it is. I think that it’s human nature to go harder and to compete. And, when you’re in a schedule, and you’re next to guys that you’re going to be competing with for spots or playtime, and everything that goes along with the NFL and the process, that you work a little harder. And so they have to somehow either be around guys or other players that are doing the same thing and getting ready for the same thing they’re getting ready for, or they have to put themselves in the mindset of, ‘Hey, what was it like on Thursday when I lifted? And the guy in my position was lifting, and he was running or training.’ That’s what they have to try to do. And that’s the balance that we wage. And, some of the guys that have come from college, they get a week off and then they’re in their summer conditioning program on campus. And this is just a little different. And we understand that. It’s just those are important days that they maintain and be ready to go so that we can be ready to go in training camp.”
On if it’s gone the way he hoped so far:
“Well, again, when you don’t have a lot of expectations, you can’t be disappointed. So I felt like there hasn’t been much complacency. I think the guys have worked. We’ve had great leadership, added some good leaders and good pieces, and we’re continuing to build and hopefully prepare for a long journey.”
On what he said yesterday about Diggs and the receiver position, and if he feels similarly with the edge with Gabe [Jacas] and Harold Landry rehabbing and that position:
“No, I like— that’s a good group. I’m glad, I’m excited about adding Dre [Dre’Mont Jones], the development of [Elijah] Ponder and [Bradyn] Swinson, added [Jesse] Luketa and some young guys. And, I think that, that, I mean, again, we’ll continue to try to look at every position and make it stronger, but that group has done a nice job. And, again, we’ll continue to look at it, but, we’ll have to see where we’re at from a numbers-wise. And then when we get into training camp, but, just how many guys you can rep, based on the practices.”
On the fact that on Tuesday, we didn’t see Christian [Gonzalez] in the competitive period of 11-on-11s and if that was his decision or the team’s:
“I think that’s just something that Christian and I talked about, and making sure that the most important thing is that we’re on the same page, which we are.”
On the fact this might be digging into something that isn’t there, but [Bradyn] Swinson’s leading the stretch line yesterday…
“That’s leading? You know what I mean? Yeah, I would say that’s reading into whatever. I mean, what is that? He’s going to be a team captain, Mike [Reiss]? I’m sorry, I didn’t want to cut you off. What’s your question about that?”
How does it happen? Does he just go up there?
“I don’t know. Have you ever seen dogs going at one bowl and there’s, you know what I mean, 4 or 5 dogs, like whoever gets there first? I mean, I don’t really know. There’s things that I try to concern myself with and things that I don’t, and who’s standing out in front when we’re doing the toe touches is not one of them. It kind of always just works itself out.”
On if Swinson has had a good offseason:
“Well, I mean, he came back in shape, came back ready to go. I think he realized what professional football is after camp and where he was and what his role was, and he realized that maybe he wants a different role. And so again, I think he’s been conscientious with special teams. Sometimes you get these defensive ends that come in from college that are outside linebackers and they haven’t done a lot of special teams. And so that’s a critical element. We need those players to be good on special teams for us. And I think he improved over the course of last season. And certainly has taken to that early on, in the spring and what we’ve been able to do. So I’m excited about what he’ll be able to do and excited to see him in training camp.”
On what his biggest takeaway was from last year spending a year working with Christian Barmore as a player and a person, and how he feels about him moving forward:
“Well, a very disruptive player. A player that cares a lot and he’s a player that we have to manage. And so, he’s able to get and understand what to do without, practicing every single day. And, just want to see him finish with, so does he, but some of those plays that he had in the backfield around the quarterback and instead of being disruptive, being able to finish those. Because he did that a lot. And try to talk to him about not being frustrated, that those plays impact the game, and it may not show up on a statistical, category. And, but I think his attitude’s been great. I enjoy working with him. I do. And looking for more of the same next year.”
On what it means for a quarterback to be a step ahead of the defense, and what are some of the tools or anticipatory elements that can allow them to have that advantage:
“Well, you always want to have the pen last and, ‘Well, they run this, we’re going to do this.’ And sometimes that happens, sometimes it doesn’t. Defenses are going to try to disguise and try to give you different looks and presentations that are going to force you to have every rule tested in protection and, in the run game, making sure that guys are blocked and who you’re IDing and who we’re going to. But there’s a lot of different tools that quarterbacks can use. You can go on ball, you can get cadence and different formations and motions and things.”
On, going back to Barmore, Eliot [Wolf] mentioned kind of a dry spell he had midseason that he rebounded from late, and how does he develop more consistency with a guy who, practice-wise, they have to manage and his reps aren’t as consistent:
“I mean, I’m focused on this year. I’m focused on how he’s been able to learn some of these— the techniques that we’ve been teaching and embracing some of that. And, whatever we did last year is not going to really help us, and focused on where we at. Again, he’s very coachable. And that’s what I appreciate. Any veteran player that the new staff comes in, that they’re coachable. Because there’s a lot of different ways to do things, and we try to give each player a menu of things to focus on and then figure out what works and what fits best for him. And looking at him and Milton [Williams], different players, different play styles, different skill sets. So you have to just address each player specifically when you’re trying to coach them on some technique.”
With Milton, there was mention of how he and Barmore have different skill sets, but how do they bounce off one another, and how are they able to…
“Well, they’re close. I mean, they have a good relationship. I think they work well together inside. I think that they communicate well. hopefully they can help us. They play hard. Milt made a lot of plays down the field. And that’s the thing I try to tell the defense is it’s not natural to chase the ball 9 times and not have the opportunity to make a play. And then on the 10th one, receiver breaks free or somebody breaks loose and you’re there. So I appreciate that and I value that. But I think they work well together as far as communication in games.”
On what he thinks motivates A.J. [Brown]? He’s known him a long time…
“Well, I’m not going to speak for A.J. I think he’ll tell you what motivates him. I think that would be the best thing. We just try to inspire them and give them confidence to do their job, each and every one of them. However they’re motivated, I hope on the top of the list at some— it may not be the top, but that it’s winning, you know? But then there’s always things that motivate different players. And when you’re given the opportunity to talk to AJ, I’m sure he’ll be able to express those for himself.”
On the fact Drake mentioned yesterday that he’s a guy who has obviously won and won a Super Bowl before, and if he’s talked about, another one driving him as he enters this chapter of his career:
“No, I mean, I don’t think our conversations have talked about that. You know what I mean? Talked about, knowing what to do and understanding how we do things. And, we joke sometimes like, ‘I forgot we do those,’ or ‘I forgot that this is how we did it with you.’ Or, just kind of – every program’s a little different.”
On now that he’s been through a program here, how the new facility is:
“Fantastic. I think that I appreciate the support and the commitment that Robert [Kraft] and Jonathan [Kraft] have made, specifically as it relates to this building. Jonathan and Stretch [John Streicher] put a lot of work in to get this thing right, to plan every room and plan every area with the players in mind. And that has been fantastic to have the meeting rooms and the access to the mobile classroom to allow an alternative style of learning. From the weight room, the access to the locker room, the expanded training room. I think it’s just been— it’s been great. And for our construction staff and Dan and Woody and Gail, for us to be able to get in here ahead of schedule, to have the draft room and have everything over here, I appreciate everything that everybody has done to get us to this point. As soon as the players are gone, like any house, there’s a punch list that they’re going to get started on. Little things that you notice. And so I’m excited about getting that right. Just appreciate Jonathan and Robert’s support since I’ve been here. They made a commitment to, to me and to my staff and, have given us the every opportunity to improve through free agency, through the draft, through the moves that we made. So, just excited to be in this new building.”
On the growth he’s seeing from Will Campbell:
“I think just maturity. I think he’s studying the game. He’s trying different things. Spring’s the opportunity, the time to try things. The quarterback’s not going to get hit. The touchdowns don’t count. We talked about that earlier. And so he’s working on different sets, working on different techniques. I think at the line of scrimmage, it’s so much not the first technique, but it’s the secondary response to – both guys aren’t going to have their hands inside. Like, the D-lineman is not going to have their hands inside, and the offensive lineman, so somebody is going to have to do something to change that to get back in the correct position. I think he’s worked hard conditioning and pushing himself and pushing that group. I think it’s been really good to see him and Jared [Wilson] push that group. And so I’m excited about that.”
On what did Vinnie DiPalma show him after ge kept him on from the previous staff:
“Well, a great teacher, you know what I mean? He’s a great teacher. You start to evaluate young coaches and their ability to use the technology and the excitement of the PowerPoint and the presentation and all these different things, but how quickly he learned our system and his knowledge, that was an easy move and well-deserved for Vinny.”
On the fact he mentioned Jesse Luketa earlier, and what they like about his skillset and if they see him as an on and off-ball player or more of a pure edge:
“I think that Jesse’s played football in the NFL. He’s played special teams. He’s had a role outside. So I think that there’s versatility to him. I think that there’s a toughness to him. I like his play style. And I think he’ll be a good addition.”
On the fact they signed a couple guys off of tryouts from rookie minicamp, Peter Manuma, Xavier Holmes and what he saw from them in that tryout that led to giving them that contract and what he’s seen from them since:
“Well, X was a productive college player. There’s a lot of reasons guys fall through the draft or, maybe don’t sign as a free agent. And he came here. You’re just looking for little things. Are they coachable? Are they going to – they make a mistake and can then they correct it? You look at effort, you look at skill set. sometimes when they’re doing the drills, X was able to do that, and most of the guys, you have to do something to kind of stand out. And, he did that.”
[The media relations staff opted to take questions from several young reporters:]
On the fact that coach Bill Belichick always said defense wins championships, and what does he believe wins championships:
“Okay, I think that defense certainly will help you win championships. I think the ability for a team to feed off each other is something that’s critical. And, certainly taking care of the football, playing complementary football, we talk about, the special teams are the unit that sets the table for both. And, our ability to kind of feed off each other and to finish drives off. We’re in the red zone today, so you’ll see us down there today at practice, how critical that area is. And defensively, it’s about limiting points. And I think that we talked about the standard of defense is what we did in the playoffs and in the red zone down there. So you’re going to need more than just some defense. But, but having great defense, it travels and it goes anywhere, goes in the heat, goes in the cold, in the rain, and goes on the road. So defense is certainly very important.”
On the fact he teaches players so much, but what is a lesson that he has learned from the players.
“That’s a great question. And I think that you learn a lot if you can just build a relationship with these guys. You learn how they handle stress and how they handle the rigors of the season. You learn other ways to do things and other techniques. You learn other ways to teach players and say, ‘Hey, remember the one time I didn’t— I wasn’t understanding this, and I did it a little differently, or I studied a little differently, and I picked it up.’ Maybe that’ll help with this player. So you learn a lot from players, and certainly that’s what makes this business rewarding for me, is being around them. I’ll miss them. I’m sure they won’t miss me that much for the 40 days that they’re gone, but they’re NFL players for a reason. And it’s not just because they’re tall or fast or strong, but they have a spirit to them. They have wisdom to them. And so, we’re lucky that we get to coach them.”
“And appreciate you guys being here today. You guys had fun so far?”
Yeah.
“Okay, well, we’re going to put you to work out there and you guys can watch, enjoy practice.”
“Just before I go, I don’t think I’ll talk to you guys here for a while, but on June 19th through the 27th, Massachusetts is sending 95 Special Olympians and staff members to Minnesota for their games. And so anything that we can do to support them and the athletes and the coaches that put so much time and effort into an amazing cause. We practiced against the Vikings last year. A lot of you guys got to see the flag football game on the field, but now we’re sending, we’ll have 95 members, and coaches, and staff up there for some time in June. So anything we can do to support them and encourage them, I would appreciate it.”
“Thanks, guys.”
(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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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
