Mike Vrabel is being officially recognized as one of the greatest players in New England Patriots history.
The Patriots announced Wednesday that Vrabel had been selected as this year’s player inductee into the Patriots Hall of Fame, becoming the 34th inductee into the team’s shrine of all-time greats.
Welcome to the Hall of Fame family, @CoachVrabel50!
— The Hall presented by Raytheon Technologies (@TheHall) May 3, 2023
Mike Vrabel has been selected as the 34th member of the @Patriots Hall of Fame: https://t.co/lLNzS3KMLy
Vrabel, who was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012, makes the Patriots Hall of Fame after an illustrious eight-year run in New England in which he helped the Patriots win three Super Bowls. A first-team All-Pro in 2007, Vrabel played in 125 games with 110 starts in eight seasons with the Patriots and recorded 606 tackles with 48 sacks, 11 interceptions and 13 forced fumbles. He also played situationally on offense as a red zone tight end/fullback, catching 10 passes – all for touchdowns – between the regular season and the playoffs, with two of those touchdown receptions coming in Super Bowls.
“Mike's leadership and versatility were principal to one of the most successful eras in franchise history, propelling the Patriots to three Super Bowl titles in four years and establishing multiple NFL records for consecutive-game win streaks,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a news release. “Many Patriots players have made contributions in all three phases of the game, but none more significantly than Mike.”
Breaking the red jacket news!
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) May 3, 2023
Robert Kraft surprises @CoachVrabel50 with his selection into @TheHall. pic.twitter.com/HFVaFUrmn2
Vrabel is one of two Buckeyes who has won three Super Bowl rings as a player, along with Nate Ebner, who also won all three of his titles with the Patriots.
A two-time All-American at Ohio State who still holds the school records for career sacks (36) and tackles for loss (66) and single-season tackles for loss (26), Vrabel played 14 total seasons in the NFL – starting his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and finishing his career with the Kansas City Chiefs – before starting his coaching career at Ohio State, where he spent three seasons as a defensive assistant coach from 2011-13. Vrabel is now entering his sixth year as the head coach of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.
