Mike Vrabel was back in the thick of it on Thursday, jumping into a full-on fight during the New England Patriots’ joint practice with the Minnesota Vikings.
The second day of workouts between the two sides turned ugly midway through the session. Shoving and words quickly turned into a pile-up near the sideline. The Patriots head coach charged into the mess, pulling players apart before things escalated further.
Watch below as Vrabel ends up on the ground in the chaos, wedged among helmets and pads before teammates drag him clear.
#Patriots HC Mike Vrabel was literally on the ground wrestling guys off of each other after a fight broke out 😭
I’ve legitimately never seen an NFL head coach do this…
(🎥 @vikingzfanpage)pic.twitter.com/YT5cuwk84R
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) August 14, 2025
This time wasn’t the first time this pre-season Mike Vrabel broke up a fight. Just last week, he broke up a clash with the Commanders and walked away with a cut on his cheek.
Wide receiver DeMario Douglas said it shows “a lot about our coach,” adding that “He’ll do anything for us.” Quarterback Drake Maye even joked the wound looked like “the Trump gunshot wound.”
Footage from Thursday’s clash shows the moment Vrabel jumped in, leaning on the physical edge that defined his 14-year NFL career. The 50-year-old put himself between the Patriots and Vikings without hesitation.
That career included eight seasons in New England, where he won three Super Bowls and built a reputation for toughness. After a strong run as Tennessee Titans head coach from 2018 to 2023, he returned to Foxborough in January to revive a struggling franchise.
Vrabel’s readiness to wade into conflict is rare for a head coach. It has already set a clear tone for his roster. “I just want them to know I got their back,” he told The Athletic after last week’s incident.
The Patriots face the Vikings again on Saturday in a preseason matchup. With two fiery practices already in the books, the tension looks set to carry over into game day.
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