Mike Vrabel

Mike Vrabel has had two successful arcs in the NFL, first as a three-time Super Bowl champion linebacker and second as a former NFL Coach of the Year who is currently the head coach of the New England Patriots. As a player, Vrabel was selected in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He embarked on a 14-year career at linebacker in Pittsburgh but truly grew into his own as a player with the Patriots. He won all three of his Super Bowl rings (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX) in New England.

Vrabel thrived in Patriots head coach Bill Belichick’s system, providing versatility by not just being a reliable linebacker in a 3-4 scheme defense, but also a receiver on offense. In Super Bowl XXXVIII, Vrabel caught a 1-yard touchdown pass, making him the first defensive player to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl on offense since 1986.

He would later score in Super Bowl XXXIX and finish his career a perfect 12-for-12 in converting receptions to touchdowns, something no other player in NFL history has ever accomplished.

Vrabel retired in 2011 and became the linebackers coach at Ohio State University, his alma mater where he earned consensus All-American honors. After spending three years coaching linebackers and defensive linemen unit at Ohio State, Vrabel joined the Houston Texans in January 2014 as their linebackers coach.