In 2024, the Patriots’ defense wasn’t up to the mark. They yielded 3,749 yards passing, ranking middle-of-the-pack, but allowed merely 96.9 passer rating, tied for the 7th highest in the NFL. Rushing defense was solid, too. Transitioning into 2025, Mike Vrabel has hit the gas. He’s shifted the base to a different alignment, simplifying responsibilities and unleashing aggression.

Then there’s the money. Vrabel went all-in during free agency, DE Milton Williams on a four-year, $104  million deal, CB Carlton Davis III for $60 million, plus LB Robert Spillane for $37.5 million. These aren’t filler pieces; they’re premium plug‑and‑play talent at every level. Vrabel himself wanted to add competition and premium players at every level of defense.

Rivals around the league are on alert. On the June 26 episode of NFL Live, former NFL DE Marcus Spears pointed out exactly what was going on with the Pats. He praised the coach and said, “Mike Vrabel is bringing back that old ‘don’t walk in here and think you aren’t going to get your eye punched out.’ I love the mentality.” Super aggressive, it seems! Mike Vrabel is bringing back that tough, no-nonsense attitude, like, if you come in soft or unprepared, you’re gonna get hit hard. It’s that gritty, physical, competitive mindset where nothing’s handed to you. This isn’t hype. Vrabel’s impact is visual, practice is more intense, assignments are crisper, and penalties are rarer.

Mike Vrabel himself has put together some pretty good defenses for the Titans. Remember, in his first season with the team, the D-line improved from the 17th to the 8th ranked, and they finished with a 9-7 record. Although they missed the playoffs, the defense appeared powerful under him. Hence, this time too, Vrabel is working on his team’s defense.

According to team site reports, red zone installs and front‑seven tempo were cornerstones even by minicamp. Tying it together, in 2024, the Pats finished 30th in DVOA on defense. PFF called this revamped defense the top reason for optimism. That’s the performance everyone wants. Mike Vrabel didn’t tweak this defense; he tore it down and rebuilt it with brute force, precision, and swagger.

The question isn’t whether the Patriots have one of the most improved defenses; it’s whether anyone in the AFC wants to test those fangs. But for now, owner Robert Kraft is happy to see the progress.

Patriots owner praised Mike Vrabel

The Patriots are 8-26 over the past two seasons. That stat alone is enough to sour an owner’s stomach, especially one like Robert Kraft, who’s seen historic success between 2000 and 2020. But at 84, Kraft isn’t just looking backwards. He’s doubling down on what comes next. “Any Patriots fans out there,” he told ESPN’s Adam Schefter at Fanatics Fest in New York City, “I can tell you I’m very excited about this upcoming season.”

You can hear it in his voice; this isn’t just optimism for the cameras. It’s a call to reset expectations. Kraft didn’t shy away from the collapse: “The last two years were the worst years of my 31 years of ownership. We have to change that.” That’s not typical owner-speak. That’s a man who knows what bottom looks like and isn’t willing to stay there. Change, in this case, isn’t just a buzzword; it’s personnel and structure.

“We have a new coach in Mike Vrabel,” Kraft said, “who is really connected with the players, who’s doing great work.” That connection, player-to-coach, top-down alignment, was missing. There’s something else in his words, too: memory. “We’ve owned the team 31 years, we’ve had 27 home playoff games, and we’ve been privileged to win 23,” Kraft said. “I want that record to keep going.”

For all the criticism, for all the scrutiny of post-Brady decisions, this is still a guy who sees winning not as an entitlement, but opportunity. He’s proud of the past, but unwilling to let it be the final word. And so, the future. There is a lot of hope going into the 2025 season.

According to Kraft, something simpler and hopeful. “We’re going to have fun this year,” he said. You could call it salesmanship. Or maybe, it’s the sound of an empire refusing to fade quietly.