Several fans had strong feelings about a recent video of Mike Vrabel addressing his New England Patriots players.
Vrabel was tasked with cleaning up the mess left behind by former Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo during the team’s disastrous 2024 campaign. In a speech addressing his squad earlier this week, Vrabel tried to lay some ground rules to abide by this coming season.
The former Coach of the Year made four simple requests from the team. First, treat team staff with respect. Second, keep hoodies down during team meetings. Third, stay punctual. Fourth, no phones during team activities.
Mike Vrabel with a fantastic introductory speech to the Patriots players.
— Savage (@SavageSports_) April 9, 2025
Leader of men. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6nLvoAKaCM
The video went viral on social media as fans seemed to have mixed opinions on Vrabel’s message.
Some appreciated the no-nonsense stance Vrabel took with his team. But others felt like Vrabel was asking for things that should be common courtesy for any job, especially one that pays its employees millions of dollars.
Not a fan. Sounds like what you hear in a junior high meeting
— TB EGO (@TomBradyEgo) April 9, 2025
Breaking news employer demands employees act like normal people in a work environment
— Aiden Fuller (@AidenFuller07) April 10, 2025
Telling grown millionaires they can’t have their phone out like this highschool 🤣 what’s the over on him being fired by December
— OfficialDakSupporter (@native_ace) April 9, 2025
Some of this don’t need to said but I guess you have to these days.
— assholebynature (@KD8891) April 9, 2025
It’s hard to disagree with fans that Vrabel’s asks seemed like basic etiquette in a professional setting. But given the dysfunction that permeated during the team’s lone season under Mayo, perhaps such reminders were necessary to get things back in order.
Vrabel had a similar message during his introductory press conference in January. The 49-year-old coach spoke of erasing any sense of “entitlement” from the Patriots’ roster going forward. But Vrabel’s message back then got a much better reception among fans.
