Drake Maye’s early impression of new Patriots head coach Vrabel
The New England Patriots finished at the bottom of the barrel last year, but things could be turning around in Foxborough for the first time in a long time.
If you haven’t heard already, it’s a new day in New England. The Patriots finally look like they have a quarterback to bring some stability to the franchise and a new coach who won Super Bowls and etched his name in the history books in Foxborough.
Intensity key for Vrabel
Drake Maye was drafted third overall by the New England Patriots, and after sitting and observing for the first few weeks of his career, he got the green light from then coach Jerod Mayo. Maye had flashes of brilliance despite a terrible having an offense around him that finished towards the bottom in nearly every statistical category
The Patriorts struggled, but fans held on to hope of a better future with Maye under center. The leash on coach Mayo was awfully short, but that opened the door for a former Foxborough legend in Mike Vrabel. The three time Super Bowl winner had a successful tenure in Tennessee before joining the team he played for most of his 14 year pro career.
Scary: Drake Maye on the new environment HC Mike Vrabel has brought to the Patriots.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 12, 2025
“Just intensity. Bringing it everyday. Leaving your ego at the door and then from there bring [the intensity] onto the field. Finishing through the whistle. Doing the little things right.”… pic.twitter.com/18AqUJQCDu
Maye and Vrabel are in the beginning stages of getting to know each other, but there is already an understanding between the QB and the former First Team All-Pro linebacker. Maye spoke about the attitude in which Vrabel conducts practices and prepares for games. “Just intensity. Bringing it everyday. Leaving your ego at the door and then from there bring it,” said Maye.
Vrabel: Maye doesn’t have to be Superman
The second year quarterback started the Patriots first preseason game against the Washington Commanders. He had 12 yards completing three of his five passes and had another couple carries for 12 yards but he did fumble the ball on the opening drive after getting chased down from behind.
Vrabel wasn’t pleased with the early turnover from his young QB considering the Pats were in the bottom five in giveaways and in turnover differential. “It’s clear how I communicate. I tell him what I’m thinking and what needs to be said ... Sometimes, we can’t try to make plays because they become bad ones,” said Vrabel. “I think he’ll learn from it and understand, like, ‘Okay, I’m not going to be able to play Superman all of the time, and I can reserve the right to punt and help this football team, and we’ll flip the field and play defense and get another crack at it.”
The Pats have two more preseason games before Week 1, and we are sure to see Maye get a few more drives before New England’s game against the Raiders on opening weekend. This weekend they play the Minnesota Vikings at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday before wrapping up the preseason with a match up against the New York Giants.
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