Patriots legend Ernie Adams reveals when he knew Mike Vrabel would be a good head coach

Mike Vrabel was a vital part of the New England Patriots dynasty and made a lasting impact during his eight seasons in Foxborough. 

Not every player can make the transition to be a coach in the league, but Vrabel did it. And it came as no surprise to one Patriots legend. 

Ernie Adams always saw it coming; however, it might not be in the way that you would think.

"The great Bucko Kilro said about players in the NFL - 'you should not deal in personalities, but nobody needs an a****** on their team,' Adams recalled during Julian Edelman's Games With Names podcast. "We really tried to keep it a****** free.

"Pro football's not a game for normal, well adjusted human beings. We've all got some a****** tendencies."

While Edelman initially referred to himself as an a******, there was one other player that immediately came to his mind during this conversation: Mike Vrabel.

"Vrabel was a huge a******," Edelman said with a laugh. 

But Adams had the perfect response. 

"Particularly when he would go on the defensive scout team, playing weak safety, delivering running commentary," Adams replied. "That was priceless. But that's when I knew Mike really had it in him to be a good coach. Right there.

"He was taking scout team defense at weak safety so he could really study the whole thing." 

After a 14 season playing career, Vrabel joined the coaching staff at Ohio State as the linebackers coach. He remained there until 2013, also serving for two years as the defensive line coach. 

Vrabel made the jump to the NFL in 2014, starting as the linebackers coach for the Houston Texans. In 2017 he was promoted to defensive coordinator and just one year later, the Tennessee Titans swooped in and made him their head coach. He remained with the Titans until the end of the 2023 season when he was unexpectantly let go. 

And now he is with the Cleveland Browns as a coaching and personal consultant. 

So while it has been a coaching career of ups a downs for Vrabel, Adams knows that the former Patriots linebacker is cut out for this. And he will continue to persevere and succeed. 

"He had just the right edge," Adams said. "You need a little (a****** in you)."