New England Patriots coach Mike Vrable is familiar with winning Super Bowls - (Chipermc photo)

Walter Payton NR TOP 10 SUPER BOWL Stories

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SPORTS NOTES - THE TURNAROUND FOR MIKE VRABEL?

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrable is familiar with winning Super Bowls. He was a member of three Patriot title winning teams during the Tom Brady era. The question is with his Super Bowl title winning playing experience can that translate into him becoming a Super Bowl title winner as a coach? - NBA's BAD BOYS - NBA's ALL TIME BEST PLAYERS 1st and 2nd TEAMS

Wednesday January 28, 2026

NFL

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

Props to New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. He had an outstanding playing career that included short stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs. He was a member of three Super Bowl title teams with the Pats, in 2001 XXXVI, 2003 XXXVIII and 2004 XXXIX. The Patriots dominated the NFL then during the Tom Brady era.

Vrabel would occasionally come in as an eligible receiver, lining up as a tight end. Head coach Bill Belichick took advantage of this in 2003 in Super Bowl XXXVIII. In the fourth quarter, Tom Brady threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Vrabel, making him the first defensive player to score a Super Bowl touchdown on offense since William "Refrigerator" Perry did so for the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX in 1986 (against the Patriots).

Vrabel was one of the defensive stars of the game as well, with two sacks and a forced fumble. The next year, in Super Bowl XXXIX in 2004, Vrabel again caught a two-yard touchdown pass. The reception made him one of 17 players to catch two or more touchdown passes in Super Bowls.

His coaching career was good but suffered a decline which led to his exit from the job in 2023. His best regular season record was 12-5 in 2021. That season they were 0-1, losing to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional Round.

The defensive minded old school type player and coach, returned to the profession this season. He turned the Patriots around from a series of losing campaigns to his career best 14-3 record this season. Capping it of is the Patriots return to the Super Bowl.

His coaching success was a coaching career record to 54-45 with the Tennessee Titans. Vrabel registered a 2-3 playoff record with the Titans. Two seasons stand out in being his best record with the club. In 2020 the Titans finished with a 11-5 record. They lost to the Baltimore Ravens in AFC Wild Card Round. In 2021 they finished the regular season with a 12-5 record and lost to Cincinnati Bengals in AFC Divisional Round.

Overall, he has a 5-3 record in the post season thus far. His teams have finished with three first place finishes in their division, two seconds and one third. They lost to the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC Championship game in conference title in 2019. That team finished with a 9-7 season record. With this Super Bowl opportunity, it could be the cherry on top of his coaching career.

His defensive mentality stood out in this game with the Denver Broncos. Although his quarterback Drake Maye is having an incredible season Vrabel's game plan was defense. Maye had only 21 passing attempts.

The ground game dominated resulting in 38 attempts. With this almost 2 to 1 margin the Pats controlled the ball. They stopped the Brocos in a crucial 4th and 1 play. The Broncos optioned to go for it while ignoring a crucial, close to the goal, 3-point field goal and failed.

As a player Vrabel's physical presence was being 6'4"and 261 lbs. Since the Pats also used him on offense his size and good hands resulted in him having 10 receptions in 14 attempts. All of his receptions resulted in touchdowns. In the post season Vrabel had 2 receptions in 3 attempts, both for touchdowns. He may hold an NFL record of having all of his 12 receptions being touchdowns. Juss sayin…

It's interesting that the buffalo Bills fired a successful to reach the Super Bowl. Funny that. Back in the day Bills coach XXX reached the Super Bowl four consecutive seasons but failed to win any. I know… I attended the final two of them when they lost against the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys.

NBA

BAD BOYS

Thunder’s Luguentz Dort and Pelicans’ Jeremiah Fears fined

January 29, 2026

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort and New Orleans Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears have each been fined $25,000 for their roles in an on-court altercation, it was announced today by James Jones, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.

At the conclusion of the Thunder’s 104-95 victory over the Pelicans on Jan. 27 at Paycom Center, Dort wrapped up Fears after Fears secured a rebound. After time expired, Dort shoved Fears in the chest, and both players subsequently grabbed each other’s jerseys in an aggressive manner.

January 28, 1975 The ABA's eighth All-Star Game was held in San Antonio. The East squad beat the West squad 151-124. Freddie Lewis was named MVP. He had 26 points, 10 assists and five rebounds. The game featured future NBA stars Julius Erving, George Gervin, Dan Issel, and Moses Malone.

January 28, 1980 New York Coach Red Holzman won his 600th game, only the second (after Red Auerbach) coach at the time to reach that plateau, as the Knicks defeated Golden State 107-103.

January 28, 1985 Bill Fitch became the sixth coach in NBA history to post 600 wins as the Houston Rockets beat New Jersey 97-93.

January 28, 1988 Michael Adams of Denver began a record streak of 79 consecutive games with at least one three-point field goal. The streak, which stretched over two seasons, lasted from

January 28, 1988 against Milwaukee through January 23, 1989 against Indiana. Dana Barros bested the streak by hitting 89 consecutive during the 1995 and 1996 seasons. January 28, 1998 Indiana's Reggie Miller had one steal in an 85-84 win over Washington to give him 1,000 for his career..