by EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Kevin O. Connell, Mike Vrabel’s Minnesota Vikings head coach, called with an invitation shortly after Vrabel resigned as head coach of the New England Patriots earlier this season.
Our place, joint practice. similar to how we previously done it.
Vrabel led the Patriots to Minnesota this week for two days of workouts against the Vikings ahead of their preseason game, two years after he brought the Tennessee Titans to Minnesota for some useful training camp work against another club.
O Connell, who is beginning his fourth season in Minnesota, stated that the Patriots are here for a reason: It begins with their head football coach and the organization itself. I have a great deal of respect for Vrabes and our relationship.
In 2008, the final of Vrabel’s eight seasons as an outside linebacker with the Patriots, O Connell was a rookie backup quarterback. After coaching the Titans for six seasons, Vrabel, a 14-year NFL veteran, worked as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns in 2024.
Before the teams took the field on Wednesday afternoon, Vrabel was prepared with a joke when asked about his thoughts on O Connell as a player.
He said with a deadpan expression that he wasn’t as excellent as Tom Brady.
Catching up with old friends
There were several other ties between the two teams besides Vrabel and O Connell. Brian Flores, the defensive coordinator for the Vikings, worked in a variety of capacities for the Patriots for 15 years. The most well-known Patriots player who was once a Viking is Stefon Diggs, but center Garrett Bradbury and backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs are also on that list.
When evaluating his return to a facility where he trained for six seasons after being selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of North Carolina State, Bradbury, like his old head coach O Connell, used the word relationships.
I feel like I never left, on the one hand. However, Bradbury said, “I have some new teammates and another jersey on.” It’s nice to meet everyone again because many of them have been a huge help to me over the past six years.
In an effort to improve the offensive line’s interior after it was thrashed in the wild card round loss to the Los Angeles Rams, which left O Connell’s postseason record at 0-2, Minnesota cut Bradbury with one season remaining on his contract. Although he didn’t want to depart, he has found fresh life in his new environment.
Speaking about advice he received from a former player after he was fired, Bradbury stated, “I think it should be mandatory for everyone to play for at least two organizations because you get to re-prove yourself, reinvent yourself.” You get to experience many methods of doing things, meet a lot of people, and form amazing friendships.
No punches, no problems
than test their players against various opponents, NFL coaches now much prefer the controlled environment of joint sessions than exhibition games. There were a few altercations during the Patriots’ game against the Washington Commanders last week, and Vrabel even got into one of the scrums to attempt to break it up before coming out with a bleeding nose.
Perhaps as a reflection of the mutual respect between the two teams, the Patriots and Vikings did not experience any similar issues. According to Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins, the eighth-year journeyman chose to punt the ball into the bleachers following a big touchdown pass from Drake Maye because he felt the excitement level was low.
With no tackling permitted, Maye was able to let multiple long throws sail down the field that struck their intended receivers despite having a lot of pressure during full-team drills that probably would have led to sacks during games. Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. was in coverage when former Vikings wide receiver Diggs caught one of them along the sideline. TreVeyon Henderson, a rookie running back, had another standout performance on a skillfully constructed wheel route that offensive coach Josh McDaniels may want to use again this season.
“When he’s in the open field, it’s difficult to catch him,” Maye remarked.
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