Roughly 35 years ago, Mike Vrabel was a middle schooler in Northeast Ohio wearing bright orange Browns sweatpants to school and occasionally chowing down on a dog bone.
"I absolutely ate dog bones, I mean I don't think you were a Browns fan in middle school in Northeast Ohio if you didn't try to get down a couple of those," Vrabel said July 30 during Browns training camp. "They would make the dog bones into necklaces and you just kind of go down and grab one every once in a while."
Vrabel, who the Browns hired as a coaching and personnel consultant over the offseason, is back in Ohio for the first time since his days working as a linebackers and defensive line coach for Urban Meyer's Ohio State teams in 2011-13.
It's been a long journey for the former Patriots All-Pro linebacker, who went from Ohio State to the Texans before accepting his first head coaching job with the Titans in 2018. The Titans let Vrabel go after the 2023 season, where he held a 56-48 record and three postseason appearances – including a run to the AFC Championship game in 2019.
Now, the Akron native is returning to his roots. Just months after entering the Patriots Hall of Fame, a symbol of where his football career took him, he will soon make a trip to Walsh Jesuit High School where his football career began as the school's Distinguished Alumni Award winner.
"I think that's where the foundation was. I mean Gerry Reardon was and is a good mentor for me, my high school football coach," Vrabel said. "I think that's where the foundation was laid in that education there, the community at Walsh and everything that it provided me as I went on to Ohio State and ultimately the NFL. So, I'm excited to be back in this area, that's going to allow me to be around a little bit more often and enjoy some of the things at the school."
It's not often that a team gets the chance to hire a former Coach of the Year to their staff. Yet, it's clear that Vrabel is embracing his role, stating that his goal is to help the Browns in any way he can as well as learn from the talented coaching staff Cleveland has to offer. The 48-year-old will focus on the tight ends room but will be present in all offensive meetings – providing a defensive perspective to what the Browns would like to accomplish on offense, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski.
From running sprints with QB Jameis Winston to lining up against TE David Njoku, Vrabel has been a presence on the practice field during training camp. When it comes to working with the three-time Super Bowl champion, Njoku summed it up in one word:
"Awesomeness."
Stefanski called him an "energy multiplier." Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry said the Browns were "certainly getting our money's worth" with Vrabel on their staff. Safeties coach Ephraim Banda called him "energetic," "very approachable" and "super intelligent."
Not too many can boast as well-rounded a resume as Vrabel. A longtime Patriot, Vrabel played 14 seasons in the NFL as a linebacker while also serving as an occasional tight end, hauling in 10 receptions – all for touchdowns. Two of them came in Super Bowl victories.
"There's nothing that he hasn't seen or that he can't provide insight into," Berry said. "Whether it's how we're practicing on the field, how we game plan, player development and player support areas, how we think about acquiring players, whether it's in the draft or free agency."
One of Vrabel's early assignments for the Browns came as Cleveland prepared for the 2024 NFL Draft. Given a list of players, Vrabel compiled his thoughts on potential selections and presented them in pre-draft meetings. As a former player and coach, the Browns valued the input Vrabel had as they drafted their rookie class.
Vrabel's competitive nature, crafted and refined in his illustrious high school and college career in Ohio, comes out at practice. Stefanski joked that he's sure Vrabel would be in pads at practice himself if it wasn't a potential violation of the NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement.
For Vrabel, being with a specific group of players is an opportunity rarely afforded to head coaches.
"That's the essence of coaching," Vrabel said. "Trying to make a connection with players, to teach them and develop them. Make them better than what they are when you began working with them. … But sometimes as you work your way towards (becoming) a head coach, some of those opportunities may diminish. But it's been good for me, it's been what I love to do."
Vrabel will not have a role during game day, something he discussed at length with Stefanski. During the weeks leading up to games, Vrabel will do anything he can to help the players and coaching staff prepare for their upcoming opponent. But on game day, Vrabel will turn on his TV – or take his seat at Cleveland Browns Stadium – and cheer on a team he is quite familiar with rooting for.
"Certainly, grew up a Browns fan," Vrabel said. "I went to games and loved a lot of those former players that made this tradition great. And you recognize how huge the fanbase is in this area and how they embrace football – not only professional football, but high school football in this area, college football and so it's certainly a football town."
