After a 1-2 start to the season and ten wins in a row, the New England Patriots are now 11-2 in the bye week. This has a lot to do with head coach Mike Vrabel. He should already be getting the Coach of the Year award.

It’s almost customary in the NFL for at least one team per conference that didn’t make the playoffs the previous year to make it this year.

This year, it will be the New England Patriots. That wasn’t a hot take before the season, given the favorable schedule, offseason transactions, and the expected step forward from quarterback Drake Maye.

But that was already leaning out of the window.

The fact that the Patriots are on the verge of their first AFC East title since 2019 and their first playoff appearance since 2021 has a lot to do with one man: head coach Mike Vrabel. He should be named Coach of the Year immediately. Eleven wins are one thing, but the way the Patriots earned those eleven wins is truly impressive.

New England Patriots: Talent isn’t everything

First of all: Yes, American football is played by the players. “It’s a players’ game,” as the saying goes.

However, even the greatest talent is useless if the players are not put in a position to succeed in the first place. The US media often uses the term “culture.” An environment, a vibe, in which players enjoy giving their best and feel well cared for.

Something that the Patriots completely lacked since 2022. First, there was Bill Belichick, who thought it was more important to have his family and friends on his coaching staff than actually competent coaches. Then there was Jerod Mayo, who was hopelessly overwhelmed by his job and was fired after only one year. And now there’s Vrabel. And with him, the vibe returned. “He’s an incredible leader. I’m incredibly happy that he’s our coach,” Maye said after the win against the New York Jets in week twelve. “I can promise you that it’s no fun playing against this team,” ESPN commentator Joe Buck raved, especially about the defense.

Stefon Diggs, for example, who is known in the league as a difficult character, often complained in previous years when he didn’t get enough balls. In four of the last five games, Diggs had no more than five catches and 50 receiving yards. Not a peep is heard or seen from him. He subordinates everything to the team’s success. Credit goes to the head coach.

New England Patriots: Mike Vrabel deliberately delegates authority

Another credit to the head coach is that he knows his areas of expertise and deliberately delegates authority in other areas. Vrabel specifically chose Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator.

Not only does he know the Patriots inside and out, he is also one of the best coordinators in the league. Vrabel is not too vain to leave the entire offense to McDaniels. Because one thing is clear: this already worked excellently under Belichick. McDaniels turned rookie Mac Jones into a Pro Bowler. Tom Brady’s success speaks for itself. And on defense? After all, Vrabel himself was an outstanding linebacker. There, too, he leaves most of the work to coordinator Terrell Williams and play caller Zak Kuhr. Vrabel still has the final say when it comes to installing the game plan and making important decisions during the game, such as whether to go for a fourth down. By “giving up” playcalling responsibilities, he can place more emphasis on flows, relationships, and values within the organization. To completely turn this franchise around in his first season and make it the most successful team in the NFL as of week 13. That alone deserves the “Coach of the Year” award.