The 2025 NFL draft is finally here, and it's safe to say that it's one of the New England Patriots' most important drafts in a long time.
After all, Thursday evening will mark Mike Vrabel's first NFL draft as the Patriots' head coach. The former New England linebacker-turned-coach was hired by the Patriots in January and has done nothing but say the right things as he attempts to lead the franchise into a bright future.
In other words, it hasn't taken Patriots fans long to embrace Vrabel's homecoming. Interestingly enough, it hasn't taken the 16th coach in franchise history long to show the same love back to the city.
Patriots News: Mike Vrabel, Robert Kraft Spotted at Celtics vs. Magic Game 2
It's the NBA postseason, and the Boston Celtics are in the middle of a first-round series with the Orlando Magic. Interestingly enough, Vrabel and Patriots owner Robert Kraft were spotted taking in the Game 2 festivities on Wednesday night.
The Patriots duo were shown on the TD Garden jumbotron (h/t @JustinmTurpin) during a first-quarter stoppage in play. Unsurprisingly, the Boston faithful showered Vrabel and Kraft with cheers, making it clear that they approve of the organization's direction.
Mike Vrabel and Robert Kraft are in the house for Game 2 pic.twitter.com/9oWLFc9G6V
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) April 23, 2025
Whether it was because of their presence or not, Vrabel and Kraft seemed to be good luck for the hometown team. The Jayson Tatum-less Celtics picked up a 109-100 victory over the Magic, taking a commanding 2-0 series lead as they're now only 14 wins away from the second of back-to-back NBA Championships.
The Celtics have been one of the NBA's most successful teams of the last decade, and New England fans are hoping Vrabel and Kraft can follow suit. Although the Patriots ran roughshod across the NFL throughout the 2000s and 2010s, the team has gone three straight years without a playoff appearance while tallying an abysmal 16-25 record along the way.
Hopefully, Vrabel's attendance at Wednesday's NBA game is just the start of his embracing the local life. The Jerod Mayo experience left a bad taste in Patriots fans' mouths, and continuing to attend sports games and other local events will only ensure that Vrabel's tenure goes smoother than his predecessor's.
The 2025 season will mark Vrabel's first time coaching since he guided the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023, going 54-45 while making three playoff appearances with two AFC South titles. Patriots fans certainly wouldn't mind a similar experience as the Akron, OH native returns to the franchise with which he won three Super Bowls.
The good news is that New England is expected to double last year's four-win total after Vrabel took over behind the bench. FanDuel Sportsbook is currently listing the Patriots' projected 2025 win total at 7.5 victories, favoring the Over at -135 odds.
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