For much of the 21st century, the New England Patriots enjoyed unparalleled success.

The combination of quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick brought the franchise 17 division titles, nine Super Bowl appearances and six titles from 2000 to 2019. Brady left for Tampa Bay in 2020 and Belichick later parted ways with the franchise after 2023.

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Former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel signed on to coach the team for the 2025 season and led a turnaround. New England won 14 games during the regular season for the first time since 2016.

Quarterback Drake Maye is an MVP contender in his second year with the franchise. The defense finished the regular season fourth in points allowed and eighth in yards allowed.

It was a complete turnaround on both sides of the ball and puts Vrabel in the conversation for Coach of the Year.

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Where was he before New England? Here’s a look at Vrabel’s coaching history before turning things around with his former team.

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa’s effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

1 / 4

Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa’s effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: The New England Patriots’ Robert Spillane (14) and Christian Elliss (53) tackle Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders won the game, 20-13.

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fumbles the ball on a tackle by Washington Commanders safety Will Harris (3) during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. It was a rough Giants debut for Wilson (17 of 37 passing for 168 yards) as the Commanders won the game, 21-6.

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Fireworks go off before the NFL Kickoff Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles opened the season with a 24-20 victory over their longtime NFC East rivals.

Did Mike Vrabel coach the Texans?

Yes. Vrabel started out as a coach with his alma mater, Ohio State, after retiring from the NFL after the 2010 season. His first job in the NFL came with the Texans under his former Patriots coach, Bill O’Brien.

Vrabel spent four years with the Texans. Three of those years (2014-16) were spent coaching linebackers before taking on defensive coordinator duties in 2017.

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Mike Vrabel coaching history

Here’s where Vrabel coached after his playing career ended:

Ohio State: Linebackers coach (2011)

Ohio State: Defensive line coach (2012-13)

Houston Texans: Defensive coordinator (2017)

Tennessee Titans: Head coach (2018-2023)

Cleveland Browns: Coaching and personnel consultant (2024)

Mike Vrabel playing career

Vrabel spent 14 years as a player in the NFL before becoming a coach.

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Vrabel in the third round, No. 91 overall in the 1997 NFL Draft. He spent the 1997 through 2000 seasons with the Steelers and did not start any games. Instead, he was a special teams player.

That changed when he signed with the Patriots in 2001. Vrabel spent the next eight years with New England and was a starter for the team’s first Super Bowl-winning squad in 2001. He won two more titles with the team in 2003 and 2004.

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Vrabel spent the final two years of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009 and 2010.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What to know about Mike Vrabel’s coaching, NFL playing career