In the lead up to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Patriots Hall of Fame nose tackle Vince Wilfork is making the rounds with interviews, working as a pitchman for various brands.
One of his stops this week was on the 6 Rings & Football Things podcast with WEEI’s Nick “Fitzy” Stevens, where he talked about his former teammate-turned-Patriots-head-coach Mike Vrabel.
Wilfork, who won a Super Bowl ring with Vrabel in 2004, explained why he wasn’t surprised Vrabel became a successful head coach at the pro level, as well as his excitement level for his former teammate of five seasons taking over his beloved franchise.
Here’s Wilfork’s full answer to Fitzy on his fellow Patriots Hall of Famer:
“Because of the smartness of [his] game. I realized when I played with Mike how smart he was. I mean, he was like - when people speak of being a coach on the field, that was 100% Mike. Just hearing him - it was like I had Bill [Belichick] in my ear on defense.”
“And it was amazing to see him in practice. And like I tell people all the time, this is the guy - you talk about a defensive guy that, you know - he’s in quarterback meetings with Bill and Tom [Brady], in the quarterbacks meeting. And this is a guy where we’re playing somebody like an Ed Reed, or any top player defensively - he would go on scout team to be that guy. And I can just remember when Tom saying, ‘He’s not going to do that!’ And Vrabel like, ‘Yes he effing will! Yes he effing will! And I’m gonna show you the play!’ And dude, they would go at it. But the one thing I always loved and respected out of their relationship is when that drill ended, you’ll see Tom and Mike in the corner of the end zone, basically, talking, and like going - and you could see him, like, Mike is telling him, ‘They’re gonna do -,’ and it was music to our ears.”
“So, absolutely he’s the perfect fit, because he’s an alpha. He’s gonna come in, he’s gonna demand the respect. He’s not gonna mince his words. He’s gonna tell you how he feels, his opinion, and he’s gonna lead you in the right way. And we all saw what he did in Tennessee his first year there. So, he knows what he’s [doing], and his resume, like, with his coaching, I think it’s just perfect.”
“He’s not an old, old guy. This is somebody that I could see being there for the next 18-20 years. Like Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh. I could see that, you know? And he’s going in with, you know, with the quarterback situation figured out now. So now I think Mike is gonna go and attack the areas that need to be attacked. But he’s gonna bring a chip on his shoulder. When he walks in a room, you’re gonna feel it, you’re gonna know it. And guys are gonna love to play for him, because Mike is one of those coaches - he’s still young enough, he’s ripping, running around with the players. And as a player to see a coach doing that - let me tell you, I would play any day for a coach like that. And I think that’s what he brings to the New England Nation.”
So if you believe Wilfork, the Patriots just hired a football savant akin to Belichick, and they’re going to have him manning the sidelines in Foxborough for the next two decades.
Pie-in-the-sky thinking?
Sure.
Pipe dream?
Doesn’t feel that way.