In a dramatic rise from disappointment to elite performance, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has won the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year award for the 2025-26 season. The announcement came during the NFL Honors ceremony held on February 5, 2026 in San Francisco, just days before Super Bowl LX.
Full 2025 NFL Coach of the Year Voting Results
The race was tight, with votes from media experts using a 10-5-3-2-1 system for top five picks. Mike Vrabel topped the Associated Press poll with 302 points from 19 first-place votes. Close behind was Jacksonville Jaguars' Liam Coen at 239 points (16 first-placers).
Seattle Seahawks' Mike Macdonald got 191 points (8 firsts), Chicago Bears' Ben Johnson had 145 (1 first), and San Francisco 49ers' Kyle Shanahan rounded out the top five at 140 points (6 firsts). This AP award was announced at NFL Honors on February 5, 2026, in San Francisco.
Other nods came earlier. The Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) also picked Vrabel on January 22, 2026, praising his 14-win debut. Executives polled in late December leaned toward other names like Coen, but Vrabel's playoff push clinched it.
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How Mike Vrabel Earned the 2025 NFL Coach of the Year Award
Massive Team Turnaround with the New England Patriots
When Vrabel was hired in January 2025, the Patriots were coming off a 4-13 season in 2024 and faced serious doubts about their future. Under Vrabel’s leadership, New England exploded to a 14-3 regular-season record and clinched the AFC East title.
This turnaround — a 10-win improvement in a single year — is one of the biggest in NFL history and a central reason why Vrabel was chosen for the award. His coaching not only improved the Patriots’ record but also transformed both the offense and defense into top-tier units.
Leadership and Team Culture Transformation
Vrabel’s philosophy of accountability, discipline, and teamwork drew praise from players and analysts alike. Patriots stars said that his leadership “brought everyone together” and created renewed belief inside the locker room.
Offensive growth under Vrabel especially stood out, with young quarterback Drake Maye emerging as a top MVP contender — a testament to Vrabel’s development approach.
In his first year as head coach for the New England Patriots, Mike Vrabel is the 2025 NFL Coach of the Year 🙌 pic.twitter.com/i7yhehjW53
— Ball Exclusives (@ballexclusives) February 6, 2026
What This Award Means for Mike Vrabel’s Career
Winning the NFL Coach of the Year award cements Vrabel’s status as one of the league’s best young coaches. Already a former NFL player with three Super Bowl rings as a linebacker, Vrabel is now proving his impact as a coach — bridging player respect, strategic vision, and measurable success.
If the Patriots go on to win Super Bowl LX, Vrabel’s coaching season may go down as one of the most remarkable in NFL history.
NFL Honors 2026: Other Key Award Winners
The NFL Honors event didn’t stop with Coach of the Year. Here are some other major awards from the 2025 season:
- AP NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP): Matthew Stafford – narrow winner over Drake Maye.
- Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett – record-setting 23 sacks.
- Comeback Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey – after overcoming serious injuries.
- Assistant Coach of the Year: Josh McDaniels – for his work with the Patriots offense.
These awards together paint a picture of the league’s top performers in 2025.
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