• Former teammates Rodney Harrison and Richard Seymour believed Mike Vrabel was destined to be a head coach.
• Vrabel was known for his high football IQ and for challenging coaches as a player.
• His leadership style is built on making individual connections and galvanizing the team.
• Vrabel is credited with quickly changing the team’s culture and leading them to the Super Bowl.

SAN FRANCISCO – Rodney Harrison saw the future with Mike Vrabel years ago. If anyone can become the first person to win a Super Bowl as a player and as a head coach, it is no surprise to Harrison that his former New England Patriots teammate might be that guy.

Harrison and Vrabel won Super Bowls together as mainstays of the Patriots defense during the early 2000s. Harrison was the star safety who revived his career after coming from the San Diego Chargers; Vrabel the versatile linebacker who also took snaps as a goal-line tight end and was a key influencer on three Super Bowl championship teams.

Now Vrabel, 50, in his first season as Patriots coach, can add to that ring collection with a victory against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60.

“Back then, we all knew that Mike was different,” Harrison, on site as an analyst for NBC’s Football Night in America, told USA TODAY Sports. “You almost looked at him as a player-coach. Because Mike was so good.

“He wasn’t afraid to challenge the coaches back then. He would always ask questions. It was, ‘What about this? What if this happens? Hey coach, but you told us this yesterday.’ The thing I always loved about Mike was that he was so well-prepared. We would always have constant communication. ‘Hey, Rod, if he blocks on me, I want you to replace…’ and blah-blah-blah. So, to see the level of success he’s having with a Super Bowl team, it is no surprise because we knew he was going to be a really good NFL coach.”

That Patriots defense of that era was loaded with supreme players who led the way to the first few Super Bowl titles with Tom Brady, before the offense evolved as the dominant force for the latter crowns. Rugged cornerback Ty Law and hybrid defensive lineman Richard Seymour have busts in Canton as Pro Football Hall of Famers. Willie McGinest was the ace edge rusher, evidenced by his NFL career postseason record of 16 sacks. Tedy Bruschi aligned alongside Vrabel. Nose tackle Vince Wilfork was added in 2004 as a premier run-stuffer.

Harrison and others, though, saw Vrabel as the glue.

“Everyone that’s been around Vrabel knew that he would be a coach … and everybody knew he was on a fast track,” Seymour, who won his first ring as a first-round rookie during the 2001 season, told USA TODAY Sports. “He was always a coach on the field.”

Seymour recalled the nuances that made a difference and how Vrabel, who also joined the unit in 2001 as a free agent, was typically the one communicating adjustments that needed to be handled on the fly. He recalled how Vrabel would often predict an opponent’s play based on precise wrinkles. Maybe the tight end’s offset alignment, for example, might have provided a clue that led Vrabel to instruct Seymour to realign himself by a few feet.

“We had a saying that after a game, we were going to give a team back their playbook because we knew what they were going to do,” Seymour said. “That’s how well-studied we were. That’s how much he knew.”

‘Mike is a really nice guy. But Mike has an a–hole about him’

Bringing the X’s and O’s to life, though, represented just one facet of what made Vrabel special. His leadership style back then, like now, was built on individual connections. Seymour and Harrison are both struck by testimony coming from current players about Vrabel’s ability to tap into their psyche. It is reminiscent of how he rolled as a veteran player.

“He has the ability to read the room and knows how to touch buttons to galvanize the group,” Seymour said. “I think he’s a brilliant leader. He’s a guy that everybody liked. The guys want to be around him, and he has a way of making everybody feel a part of it. I think those are some of the qualities that it takes to be a really good head coach. He showed that during his playing days, too, being able to hang out with everybody, being able to bring everybody together.”

Then again, Vrabel has another side he can tap into that is, well, less accommodating. Harrison can explain.

“Mike is a really nice guy. But Mike has an a–hole about him that you have to have,” Harrison said. “And he’s not afraid to give it to the coaches or players.”

Harrison vividly recalls his early days with the Patriots, and how his connection with Vrabel was forged amid conflict. As an intense, hard-hitting safety, Harrison brought a reputation from his nine years with the Chargers as an over-aggressive player. His first training camp with the Patriots in 2003 was marked by dustups with offensive teammates.

“I got into fights because I was hitting Troy Brown and Kevin Faulk when I came in, and they were all over me,” Harrison remembers. “Mike Vrabel came up to me and said, ‘F-them! Keep playing the way you play,’ and walked away. I was the new guy coming in, everybody is fighting mad at me and that’s what he tells me.”

‘These guys have trusted Mike Vrabel, and they’re in the Super Bowl’

No doubt, Vrabel has found ways to connect with a new generation of Patriots players. That he has instilled a new culture – or brought back the old Patriot Way culture in some ways – was obviously the objective after Patriots owner Robert Kraft fired Jerod Mayo after just one season as Bill Belichick’s successor and replaced one ex-linebacker with another as coach.

After all, Vrabel, the NFL Coach of the Year for a second time after he previously won in 2021 during his six-year tenure with the Tennessee Titans, is already established as one of the league’s best coaches.

Yet even Vrabel’s former teammates probably would not have predicted that this trek back to the Super Bowl for the Patriots would happen so fast. While the team added some key newcomers this season – including Stefon Diggs, Harold Landry III and Milton Williams – the team that won the AFC title includes 23 players who were part of a 2024 team that posted the franchise’s second consecutive 4-13 finish.

“Let me tell you how hard it is to get trust in one year: It’s tough,” Harrison said. “It’s hard to come in and change the culture. It’s hard to come in and get to these veteran players who are stuck in a certain mindset. I mean, it’s easy to have a defeated mindset.

“Mike’s come in and gotten rid of people, and he’s also added a lot of positivity. He’s speaking into the players’ lives. He cares about these guys and that’s why they are playing the way they play. Sometimes, it’s not about an easy schedule, it’s not about X’s and O’s, it’s about believing in one another and the cause. This is a perfect example of it. These guys have trusted Mike Vrabel, and they’re in the Super Bowl.”

Just like some key Patriots players might have envisioned a generation ago.  

Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on X: @JarrettBell

Our latest NCAA men’s basketball bracket projection features a few changes in the upper quadrant. Several programs with national titles in the past decade are among the teams with upward mobility.

Kansas, riding a six-game winning streak, has surged to a No. 3 seed along with defending champ Florida. Purdue is also back up to the third line, as Michigan State slips to a No. 4 after dropping its second game in a row Wednesday night at Minnesota. Virginia is back in the top 16 as well, grabbing a No. 4 seed as Brigham Young slides to a five after a three-game losing skid.

STARTING FIVE: The biggest college basketball games to watch this weekend

Gonzaga, thanks to a stunning upset Wednesday at Portland, falls off the second line to a No. 3. That result wasn’t all bad for the West Coast Conference, however, as it moved Santa Clara into first place in the league standings. That puts the Broncos in line for the automatic bid, giving the WCC three teams in the field for the moment. Saint Louis is now the lone Atlantic 10 squad in the projected field with George Mason taking a damaging loss to Duquesne this week.

March Madness bracketology update for NCAA tournament

March Madness Last four in

San Diego State, UCLA, Ohio State, New Mexico.

March Madness First four out

Miami (Fla.), Virginia Tech, California, Missouri.

NCAA tournament bids conference breakdown

Multi-bid leagues: Big Ten (11), SEC (10), ACC (7) Big 12 (7), Big East (3), Mountain West (3), West Coast (3).

The NBA trading deadline has come and gone, so now it’s all about sorting through the implications of what it all means.

To be clear: this was a peculiar deadline, one that perhaps lacked the massive, where-were-you-when deal like last year’s Luka Dončić trade. But it was marked by the looming presence of the potential availability of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time Most Valuable Player, who ultimately remained with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Paired with Ja Morant remaining on the Memphis Grizzlies, this perhaps is setting the stage for what could be a very busy summer.

Here are the winners and losers from the 2026 NBA trading deadline:

WINNERS

Milwaukee Bucks

Overwhelmingly, the Bucks are the biggest winners here, and it’s because they didn’t give in to external pressure and they exercised patience. This isn’t to say that Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t eventually be traded. That may still come in the summer. But it became clear early on that Milwaukee had no obligation to trade Antetokounmpo before the deadline, especially because suitors will have more draft capital and financial flexibility to improve their offers during the summer.

But there’s still a pathway for the Bucks to convince Antetokounmpo to stay. His public comments have been nothing but positive about the Milwaukee community and he has expressed a desire to win in the city. These are all signs that Antetokounmpo’s loyalty may win the day and get him to commit to the long-term future of the franchise. Now, the Bucks have work to do.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The rich(est) got richer. Not only did Thunder general manager Sam Presti pull off a sneaky-good deal to get guard Jared McCain, who was looking like the clear Rookie of the Year last season before injuries derailed his season, but they likely got some good news in this year’s draft lottery, too. Oklahoma City still owns the 2026 first-round selection that belonged to the Clippers from the 2019 trade that sent Paul George to Los Angeles for a package that included Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Fast forward to Thursday, where the Clippers traded two of their best three players, James Harden and Ivica Zubac, and the Clippers could reverse their recent solid play and may tumble down the standings. All of which could lead to a lottery pick for the Thunder.

How the Grizzlies handled Ja Morant’s value

Reading the tea leaves here, Ja Morant probably won’t be on the Grizzlies at the start of next season. Yet, credit Memphis for not caving in and forcing a deal when his value and market were entirely depressed.

The Grizzlies are rebuilding, so Morant and the $126.5 million he’s owed over the next three seasons don’t align. But suitors were wary about packaging assets for a player who has been injury prone, has seen his efficiency and production diminish and who has had off-court concerns.

Morant is once again sidelined with an elbow ligament issue, but when he returned from a calf injury for two games in the middle of January, he combined for 47 points on 50% shooting, adding 25 assists.

If Morant can return to form once he returns from that injury, it should increase his value, leading to a higher return when the Grizzlies ultimately decide to move on in the summer.

Boston Celtics

Quietly, the Celtics addressed their biggest need and shaved some salary in the process. Since Boston traded Kristaps Porziņģis and lost Al Horford in free agency, it has been looking for a reliable center who can stretch the floor. The Celtics leveraged backup guard Anfernee Simons’ recent hot play to land former Bulls center Nikola Vučević, who fits in perfectly with Boston’s high-volume perimeter shooting offense.

This comes as a huge relief for Jaylen Brown. And, with the Celtics (33-18) exceeding expectations, a potential Jayson Tatum return late in the season could make Boston an intriguing team to watch in the playoffs.

Charlotte Hornets

The hottest team in the NBA added more shooting and scoring in the form of Coby White from the Bulls on a relatively affordable deal, especially since White is already an upgrade from Collin Sexton.

There is a bit of risk here, as White is on an expiring deal, so Charlotte would be best suited to extend him. But since White is from North Carolina, and since he played at UNC, he may be inclined to stay close to home. He’s only 25, can play off the ball and should have plenty of chances to find a sustainable role.

LOSERS

Miami Heat

No team had more riding on Antetokounmpo and no team lost more than the Heat. Miami was the lone team in the Eastern Conference (and one of only three in the entire NBA) to fail to make a single trade before the deadline. Whether it was Kevin Durant, Donovan Mitchell, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard or a number of others, the Heat have been constantly linked to another white whale.

Yet, time and time again, this front office has failed to sell high on its assets and has therefore failed to stockpile the draft picks necessary to execute a trade for  stars like these. Case in point: rather than flipping players like Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Andrew Wiggins or Terry Rozier for picks, Miami is plodding forward under the assumption it can compete in the East with this roster. It cannot.

Golden State Warriors

Similarly, the Warriors were in on the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, only to be left to pivot. Golden State’s reported offer was heavy in draft capital, but the Warriors lacked young players to send Milwaukee’s way.

So, the team had to acknowledge an organizational failure to develop Jonathan Kuminga, the No. 7 overall selection in the 2021 draft, and settle for Kristaps Porziņģis. In a vacuum, Porziņģis is a seamless fit. Perhaps more than any big in the NBA, he can stretch the floor with extensive range and the Warriors have had a massive void at center.

But can Porziņģis stay on the floor? He has been battling an autonomic nervous system condition and simply cannot be counted on as a regular presence in the lineup.

Kawhi Leonard

Just when the Clippers started to turn their season around, Los Angeles pivoted and retooled for the future. The Ivica Zubac trade may actually be quite fruitful for the Clippers, but it doesn’t do much for Leonard, who suddenly becomes the lone star on the team.

Darius Garland is a younger player, but he has been injury-prone, so he may not provide immediate help. Leonard, meanwhile, is entering the final season of his contract next season, so he could potentially be a trade candidate over the summer, right as he’s set to turn 35.

Chicago Bulls

They had lost five of their last six games and were likely looking at a slide the rest of the regular season, but the Bulls continue to make confounding moves. For one, the team made several moves to acquire guards and now has seven on the roster, with six of them having strong arguments to get burn in the rotation. Simply put: there’s not enough minutes to be had for so many guards.

The byproduct is that their depth at center is abysmal, with newly-acquired Nick Richards in line to replace Nikola Vučević. On top of it all, the Bulls failed to sell high on guards like Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu when their value was better than it was in this cycle.

Sacramento Kings

Not only was Sacramento unable to move some of its overpriced veterans like DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, and not only were the Kings unable to flip Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk for future assets, but they made a confusing trade for De’Andre Hunter. This is not an indictment on Hunter; he’s a solid wing, albeit one who’s probably overpriced.

Sacramento likely felt it needed to get a return on Keon Ellis, a solid guard who can knock down shots and defend with persistence. Ellis, for what it’s worth, was a player several contenders were eyeing. Which, as a quick aside, it’s usually a bad sign when savvy teams are targeting players that a franchise is devaluing.

What the Kings need to do is raze this build to the ground and stockpile as many assets as they can — not bring on more veterans, especially not ones who are modest upgrades, if they’re upgrades at all.

• USC, LSU, Oregon, and Texas Tech are highlighted as winners of the recent college football recruiting cycle.
• Penn State, Baylor, and Auburn are listed as losers, facing challenges from coaching changes and decommitments.
• The transfer portal and NIL era have significantly changed roster management, making it difficult to retain recruiting classes.

Signing a great college football recruiting class is one thing. Keeping that class together for multiple years of development is another.

Based on how roster management has changed in the portal and NIL era, Bowl Subdivision programs will struggle to keep half of their signees in any given class on campus for the duration of their college eligibility.

In fact, a 50% hit rate would be superb. More than 4,000 players entered the portal this winter, representing about a quarter of the FBS.

But even as Indiana bucks history to win a championship behind a transfer-heavy roster, the key to success in the Power Four is to use transfers to augment a roster largely built and developed through traditional recruiting.

With this year’s recruiting cycle complete, let’s break down the biggest winner and losers from the second national signing day:

Winners

Southern California

USC signed the nation’s third-largest class with 35 traditional signees. Leading the way are a pair of five-star recruits in edge rusher Luke Wafle and tight end Mark Bowman. While over half of the class hails from California, the Trojans also inked two of the top four prospects out of Texas and two of the top eight prospects from Ohio. There are multiple freshmen in this group capable of adding immediate depth or even grabbing starting roles from the start, which should help USC climb the ladder in the Big Ten and compete for a College Football Playoff berth in 2026.

LSU

The Tigers’ transfer haul featured some of the best prospects in the portal in quarterback Sam Leavitt, offensive tackle Jordan Seaton and edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen. That’s only increased the hype heading into Lane Kiffin’s debut. The past month has also seen LSU add bodies up front via a pair of junior college linemen in Adrian Lamb and Jakolby Jones, completing a rapid overhaul of the offensive front. Lamb chose the Tigers over offers from SEC rivals Alabama, Auburn and South Carolina.

Oregon

No team signed more five stars than the Ducks’ quartet of offensive lineman Immanuel Iheanacho, tight end Kendre’ Harrison, pass rusher Anthony Jones and wide receiver Jalen Lott. All four should find early playing time; Iheanacho is expected to start and Lott should land in a supporting role behind established starters Dakorien Moore and Evan Stewart. The second signing period included two new additions in running back Brandon Smith and three-star defensive lineman Anthony Jones. Smith joins fellow four-star recruit Tradarian Ball in adding even more juice to an already impressive backfield while Jones will help replenish a defensive front that lost significant depth to the transfer portal.

Texas Tech

While known more for dominating the transfer portal, Texas Tech also signed the top-rated recruiting class in the Big 12, led by a pair of key signings – five-star edge rusher LaDamion Guyton and offensive tackle Felix Ojo. While Ojo should land on the two-deep as a freshman, Guyton is destined for a meaty role given the Red Raiders’ offseason losses on the defensive front – though Guyton won’t arrive in Lubbock until after the spring, shortening his adjustment period before the start of the regular season. Another newcomer capable of stepping right into the mix is wide receiver Chase Campbell, a key local recruit who joins a crowded but somewhat unproven rotation.

Losers

Penn State

James Franklin’s firing, Matt Campbell’s arrival and Franklin’s move to Virginia Tech combined to keep this transition class near the bottom of the Big Ten. And signing a smaller group isn’t a huge deal given the Nittany Lions’ transfer haul, which includes some high-profile carryovers from Iowa State in quarterback Rocco Becht and safety Marcus Neal. Campbell also pulled off a late recruiting coup in defensive lineman Elijah Reeder, who blossomed into one of the top edge rushers in this cycle. But the class is still short on star power with just a pair of four stars and no recruit who seems assured of playing a major role in 2026.

Baylor

Baylor was one of the big losers of the early signing period after losing offensive tackle Kole Seaton to Oklahoma State, four-star receiver Jordan Clay to Washington, four-star defensive lineman Jamarion Carlton to Texas and four-star defensive backs Jamarion Vincent and Jordan Deck to Michigan. That left the Bears around the top 70 nationally and near the bottom of the Big 12. They rallied to add two in-state recruits this past month in running back HD Davis and linebacker Jahiem Porter, but both are developmental prospects who combined for just one additional Power Four scholarship offer.

Auburn

Auburn and new coach Alex Golesh did sign five four-star recruits, more than five teams in the SEC. Leading the way is local edge rusher Jaquez Wilkes, who stuck to his commitment through the coaching change despite offers from many of the top programs in the Power Four. But the Tigers also suffered a rash of high-profile decommitments, losing safety Bralan Womack to Mississippi State, wide receiver Jase Matthews to Mississippi, edge rusher Hezekiah Harris to Tennessee and receiver Devin Carter to Florida State.

Los Angeles Lakers big man Jaxson Hayes was handed a one-game suspension by the NBA ‘for pushing a Washington Wizards mascot during pregame introductions,’ the league said in a statement on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

Hayes shoved the Wizards’ mascot, G-Wiz, during pregame introductions before the Jan. 30 game in Washington. The mascot had been running with a giant flag when Hayes, 25, made contact, sending the mascot careening into cheerleaders running onto the court, video of the incident shows.

The Lakers will be without Hayes for Thursday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

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Forward Artemi Panarin is off the trade market and the free agent market.

The New York Rangers traded Panarin on Wednesday. Feb. 4 to the Los Angeles Kings, who signed the high-scoring winger to a two-year contract extension averaging $11 million a year. The Rangers received prospect forward Liam Greentree and conditional third- (2026) and fourth-round (2028) picks.

Panarin, 34, was the latest player to come off a list of what had been an impressive unrestricted free agent class. Kirill Kaprizov signed a record extension and has been joined by Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Kyle Connor, Martin Necas and Adrian Kempe.

Here are some of the top remaining pending unrestricted free agents:

Top remaining free agents

10. Anders Lee, New York Islanders

He has been the Islanders’ captain since 2018 and is good for 20-plus goals. He had 29 last season. Current cap hit: $7 million.

9. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

The NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer is 40. He’ll either re-sign with Washington or retire. He hasn’t indicated his plans. Current cap hit: $9 million.

8. Kiefer Sherwood, San Jose Sharks

He was the runaway leader in hits last season and is in second place this season. He also has 17 goals and was traded by the Canucks this season. Current cap hit: $1.5 million

7. John Carlson, Washington Capitals

Carlson is the Capitals’ all-time leader in scoring among defensemen and is a key to their power play. He’s the one who sets up Ovechkin’s one-timers. Current cap hit: $8 million.

6. Sergei Bobrovsky, Florida Panthers

The goalie has won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles and two Vezina Trophies. He’ll be 38 next season. Current cap hit: $10 million.

5. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

The 39-year-old has expressed an interest in playing more and he’s making a case with 43 points in his first 40 games. He missed some time with an injury but has won three Stanley Cup titles in his storied career. Current cap hit: $6.1 million.

4. Darren Raddysh, Tampa Bay Lightning

The defenseman is having a breakout season with 17 goals and 51 points while filling in during Victor Hedman’s two injuries. Current cap hit: $975,000.

3. Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights

The defenseman was traded to the Golden Knights this season by the Flames. He can provide offense with a 50- and a 49-point season. Current cap hit: $4.55 million.

2. Nick Schmaltz, Utah Mammoth

The forward keeps improving every year. The winger usually gets 20-plus goals and 60-plus points, and he’s already at 22 goals and 51 points this season. Current cap hit: $5.85 million.

1. Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres

The forward can score (two 36-goal seasons) and also kills penalties. He wants to stay in Buffalo and new general manager Jarmo Kekalainen wants to keep him. Current cap hit: $4.75 million.