New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft didn’t decide on Mike Vrabel overnight. In fact, the idea first came to him in the middle of one of the most emotional games in franchise history—a cold, rainy playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans in 2019.
Vrabel, then head coach of the Titans, led his underdog squad to a stunning 20–13 upset at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots had entered the game as favorites but fell short in what would become the final game of Tom Brady’s legendary New England career. His last pass in a Patriots uniform was a pick-six.