The New England Patriots came closer to a championship in 2025 than anyone predicted. After finishing the prior two seasons 4-13, the team tied a league record with a 10-win turnaround under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, while quarterback Drake Maye finished second in MVP voting.
They won three playoff games to reach Super Bowl LX, but the run fell apart in a 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle’s "Dark Side" defense dominated Maye, sacking him six times and forcing three turnovers. He struggled early, managing only 48 passing yards in the first half, and only improved his stats in garbage time.
Following the dominant loss, Vrabel was vocal about the team's shortcomings. While praising the season's turnaround, he emphasized that the offensive infrastructure got "exposed" by Seattle's elite defense. So, they made some key remodeling in the offense for the coming season.
Now, the defensive side of the building is getting reinforced too. According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Patriots are hiring former Giants and Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen as a defensive analyst. The move reunites Bowen with Vrabel, his longtime head coach from their years together with the Tennessee Titans.
Bowen and Vrabel’s connection goes back to 2012, when they coached together at the Ohio State Buckeyes. Bowen was a graduate assistant, and Vrabel handled the defensive line. They spent the next decade working together, eventually leading the Tennessee Titans’ defense from 2021 to 2023.
When the Giants fired Bowen in November, his unit ranked 30th in the league, allowing nearly 28 points per game. Most notably, the Giants tied a frustrating NFL record by blowing five double-digit leads in a single season.
Despite the poor stats, Vrabel defended his former assistant, saying, "Shane is a close friend. We started in this business together. He’s a good football coach, but in this business, decisions get made."
