Former Titans tackle Taylor Lewan had some advice for players on the Patriots roster on how to handle their new head coach, Mike Vrabel.
The Patriots made the hiring official on Sunday by making the former New England player, and ex-Titans coach, the franchise’s second head coach following the Bill Belichick era.
Vrabel led the Titans from 2018 to 2023 and held a 54-45 record, while also going 2-3 in the postseason.
Lewan played under the 49-year-old head coach for five seasons and in a social media post on Sunday, he praised the culture that Vrabel will bring to New England and shared some tips on how to deal with him as a coach.
“The culture is going to be incredible. You guys are going to win games,” Lewan said in the video. “Those tough, one-score games, you’re going to win them. That’s how Mike Vrabel works. That guy is going to have his team knowing the ins and outs.”
In his message to the players, he told them they need to “keep your f–king head on a swivel” because of the challenges Vrabel will throw their way.
“You need to understand that s–t is going to be really hard for a little bit,” Lewan said. “And it’s going to be OK. But just know, you’re about to go into hell for a little bit. You’re going to be sitting there in the locker room, you’re in small groups, ‘Who the f–k is this guy?’ ‘Why is he talking to us like this?’ ‘Who does he think he is?’ Yeah, he played in the league, whatever. By the way, in that first team meeting, he’s going to tell you how many years he played in the league. And he’s going to reference it forever.
“Not a bad thing, boys. I’m telling you, it’s going to work out. I was a part of it. While I was in those small little groups, and you start to get away from it, and it’s ‘Yeah, this dude knows what the f–k he’s talking about. But, keep your butthole tight in those team meeting rooms. You have got to keep your butt hole tight. Because he’s going to have guys stand up, ‘Who’s this guy? Who’s that guy?’”
Vrabel takes over as the Pats’ head coach after the organization fired Jared Mayo after just one season, during which he went 4-13.