New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel left a strong impression on his players Wednesday after diving into a practice brawl during a joint session with the Washington Commanders.
The former linebacker-turned-head coach emerged from the pile with a bloody cheek after attempting to break up a scuffle that erupted following a blitz pickup drill involving rookie TreVeyon Henderson.
Mike Vrabel Gets Bloodied Jumping Into Patriots-Commanders Brawl
Vrabel’s fearless reaction and battle scar earned instant respect across the Patriots’ roster. Quarterback Drake Maye praised the intensity Vrabel brings, calling it the tone they want to set as a team. Teammates joked about the wound, with Maye comparing it to Donald Trump’s recent ear injury and wideout DeMario Douglas quoting Vrabel saying, “You should’ve seen the other guy.”
#Patriots HC Mike Vrabel jumped into a scuffle between his players and the Commanders during joint practice — and came out of the pile bleeding.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 6, 2025
The ultimate football guy.
(📸 @HoodiDrake) pic.twitter.com/B2fEjZwtHt
Though Vrabel has always been known as a player's coach, Wednesday's scene, where he threw himself into the fray, cemented his buy-in with the locker room.
Photo Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
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