In the end, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel got the last laugh (and a game ball) in his return to Tennessee.
The first-year Patriots coach returned to Nashville where he coached the Titans for six seasons before being fired. Motivated to get their boss a win in his old stomping grounds, New England cruised to a 31-13 win against a woeful Titans team.
It didn’t start especially smooth for Vrabel and Co., though. Tennessee actually took an early lead, and just a few minutes into the game, Titans star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons had some fun with his old coach, making a crying face at Vrabel, who was complaining from the Patriots sideline about the lack of a facemask call.
Vrabel took the high road a day later during his WEEI interview when asked about the incident Simmons.
“(He was doing it at) me, I’m sure,” Vrabel said in his Oct. 20 weekly interview with “The Greg Hill Show” on WEEI. “But I’m sure he’s not going to want to hear this, but what makes you cry, makes you laugh, I guess. I know that’s not how it goes, but I spun it around there.”
Mike Vrabel ‘Proud’ of Himself for Handling Titans Star’s Taunting
Unfortunately for the Titans and Simmons, the three-time Pro Bowler had to leave the game early with a hamstring injury. Vrabel made it clear he didn’t have any ill will toward his former pupil.
“Jeff and I have a good relationship, and I was sorry to see him get hurt,” Vrabel added.
However, Vrabel couldn’t help but pat himself on the back for how he handled things int he moment, either.
“But as a coach,” he explained, “I have to take the high road, and I did, and I’m proud of myself for not responding.”
Mike Vrabel Gets Patriots Game Ball in Return to Nashville
After the resounding homecoming win, Vrabel made sure to put the praise on his players, both at the podium and in the locker room. In his postgame message to Patriots players, he lauded them for their hard work and ability to win on the road; New England returns home in Week 8 after winning three consecutive road games for the first time in franchise history.
As Vrabel finished his postgame speech, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye — who had himself an afternoon, as well — interrupted the boss to deliver a message, and a game ball, to Vrabel.
“One sec, one sec, hold on. … Hey, for coach and all the Tennessee coaches: Coach Vrabel, we love playing for you, and we’re glad you’re our head coach. We love you, coach,” Maye said, as seen in a video shared by the Patriots.
Vrabel unsurprisingly downplayed the gesture, instead heaping the praise back on the players.
“I appreciate it, and I’m happy for these guys,” Vrabel said during the WEI interview. “I’m happy that they can see success and feel it and they’re excited, and (they) had a lot of great personal achievements, and most importantly, the team achievement.”
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