Dave Portnoy is clearly excited about Mike Vrabel’s return to the New England Patriots as head coach, and he made sure to share his enthusiasm with the NFL world. In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Portnoy, a die-hard Patriots fan, fired a warning shot at AFC powerhouses, including the Chiefs and Bills, declaring the Patriots are back on the rise.
Portnoy kicked off his celebration with a catchy phrase, shouting, “Mikey Vrabel, Mikey Vrabel coming back home! Mikey Vrabel coming back home starts now!” The Barstool Sports founder didn’t hold back, telling the NFL to take notice of the Patriots‘ resurgence. “Hey NFL, hey Mahomes, hey Buffalo, hey everybody else in the league, everybody who thinks they’re on the up and up, we’re back!” he exclaimed.
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Portnoy’s bold claim: “Super Bowl #7 loading”
His excitement didn’t stop there. Portnoy followed up with an even bolder statement: “Super Bowl #7 loading!!!” suggesting that he believes Vrabel will lead the Patriots to another championship.
The Patriots made it official on Sunday, naming Vrabel as their 16th head coach in franchise history. Vrabel, 49, previously played for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008 and won three Super Bowls with the team. His hiring comes after Jerod Mayo’s firing, who struggled with a 4-13 record in his first season as head coach.
Vrabel is best known for his time coaching the Tennessee Titans from 2018 to 2023, where he earned recognition for turning around the team. After being let go by the Titans in January, he briefly served as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns before being approached by the Patriots. Vrabel also had conversations with the Bears and Jets regarding their head coaching vacancies before agreeing to terms with New England.
The Patriots are set to introduce Vrabel as their new head coach at a press conference on Monday. With several teams still in search of a new head coach, including the Bears, Jets, Raiders, Saints, and Jaguars, Vrabel’s hiring is one of the most significant moves of this coaching cycle.
As the NFL offseason continues, Portnoy’s message is clear: the Patriots, with Vrabel at the helm, are preparing to make a strong comeback.