Perhaps the biggest surprise of the 2025 NFL season has been the rapid turnaround of the New England Patriots, who have emerged as one of the league’s top contenders after winning only four games in each of the previous two seasons. Securing the franchise’s first winning record since 2021 stems largely from the partnership between budding superstar quarterback Drake Maye and first-year head coach Mike Vrabel.

During his rookie season in 2024, Maye showcased the talent and potential that prompted the Patriots to select the University of North Carolina product in the first round of the NFL Draft that offseason. However, it was clear that the underwhelming roster and coaching staff around him were holding both him and the franchise back. All of that changed when Vrabel arrived in January.

After a win over the New York Jets Nov. 13, Maye praised his head coach for everything he has done to elevate this Patriots team from worst to first in the NFL.

“He brings it every day and he cares about us. He coaches hard, but he cares about us. We love playing for him. I love playing for him,” Maye said on Amazon’s Thursday Night Football postgame show. “I just appreciate what he’s done for me and what he’s done for this football team.”

Seated next to Maye in the same postgame interview, Vrabel echoed that mutual respect, crediting the opportunity to coach such a talented quarterback as one of the main reasons he took the job in New England.

“I came here because of the familiarity. I came here because of Drake,” Vrabel said. “That’s someone I wanted to coach. And so building a program is about that. It’s about putting great people around your really good players. That’s what Drake is for us.”

Given how inadequate the Patriots’ roster had been in previous years, Vrabel arrived knowing he needed to make serious changes across the board — but each and every decision was fixated on supporting Maye and his development.

Every move the Patriots made this past offseason reflected that vision. They upgraded the offensive line to give their young quarterback real protection, then added proven playmakers like Stefon Diggs and Treyveon Henderson to finally surround Maye with legitimate weapons. It was a complete organizational shift driven by Vrabel’s unwavering commitment to Maye, and it is no coincidence that with a roster built around him, Maye has blossomed into an MVP candidate.

The connection between Maye and Vrabel underscores the importance of the head coach-quarterback relationship in the NFL. While football is ultimately a team sport, the very best teams depend on having the right head coach and quarterback. These two roles — perhaps the most significant in shaping a franchise’s direction and ceiling — form the foundation every successful team needs. From there, the rest of the roster can fall into place as the sense of structure and leadership is established.

Patriots fans are familiar with the power of a strong coach-quarterback duo, having celebrated six Super Bowl victories under Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, a partnership that lasted more than 20 seasons. The dynasty that followed: The Kansas City Chiefs, who have flourished under head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Even the most recent Super Bowl winners, the Philadelphia Eagles, feature a tandem of head coach Nick Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts that has led the team to four consecutive playoff appearances.

With Maye and Vrabel working in sync and establishing themselves as the clear cornerstones of the franchise, the Patriots have not only returned to contention but appear positioned for sustained success in the years to come.

Interestingly enough, the two teams that selected quarterbacks in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft — the Tennessee Titans and the New York Giants — fired their head coaches midseason. Their decisions underscore the truth that the fastest path to a successful rebuild is pairing a young quarterback with a coach who can elevate his game. Titans and Giants fans can only hope their teams replicate New England’s blueprint with Maye and Vrabel, which is the clear model for turning a franchise around.