University of Kwazulu-Natal

Drake Maye Gifts Mike Vrabel A Game Ball After Win Against Former Team

Bonisiwe Shabane
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drake maye gifts mike vrabel a game ball after win against former team

There were a lot of subplots leading into the New England Patriots' trip to Nashville to take on the Titans. The now 1-6 Tennessee Titans fired their head coach, Brian Callahan, on Monday after a dismal start to the season. Six days later, the man who reshaped their franchise by getting them to an AFC Championship and winning a Coach of the Year award, only to be fired, would return. Week 7 was a revenge game of sorts for Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. It was the kind of game that any player or coach would brush off in the press, not to add fuel to the fire, but everyone knows that Vrabel would secretly hope his team... Quarterback Drake Maye had himself an afternoon, going 21 of 23 for 222 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, and he even rushed for 66 yards (43 of which were in the first...

One would think that in the post-game locker room speech, Maye would get the game ball for another impressive Sunday afternoon. Turns out the team had a plot twist to throw at their coach. Send this article to your social connections. Send this article to your social connections. Mike Vrabel and the Patriots locker room celebration: Following another Patriots win, the team released footage from its latest postgame locker room celebration. The 31-13 defeat of the Titans was notable for New England’s first-year head coach, Mike Vrabel, as it was the same team that fired him in 2024.

As much as Vrabel tried to downplay the circumstances beforehand, it was clear that his players weren’t going to let the moment pass by unacknowledged after the fact. Vrabel started the postgame address to his team with a credit to their mentality while playing away from Gillette Stadium. New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was given the game ball by his quarterback, Drake Maye, following Sunday’s win over the Tennessee Titans, and he appreciated the honor, as he noted in a radio... Sunday marked Vrabel’s return to Tennessee for the first time since the 2023 season. The Patriots were able to dominate on both sides of the football and pick up their fifth win of the year. It was quite the win for a team that is quickly finding its stride.

Vrabel did not want to make his return to Tennessee about himself, but he was genuinely happy to receive the game ball from Maye. "He did. He did. And again, I appreciate it," Vrabel said on Maye giving him a game ball. "Happy that they can see success, and they can feel it. They're excited.

A lot of great personal achievements, and most importantly, the team achievements." The combination of Maye and Vrabel, along with the return of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, is a major reason why the Patriots are sitting at 5-2. A Patriots player getting a game ball spans decades. But Drake Maye decided to put a twist on the tradition on Sunday. After New England’s 31-13 win over the Tennessee Titans, coach Mike Vrabel entered the locker room to give a speech to his team. As he was about to exit, Maye stepped in and gave his coach the game ball.

“Coach Vrabel, we love playing for you,” the quarterback said in a video shared by the Patriots. “Glad you’re our head coach. We love you, coach.” It was an emotional win for Vrabel, who returned to Tennessee for the first time since being fired by the Titans in 2024. “Vra-bel!” chants filled Nissan Stadium at one point. “I didn’t get that many tickets,” Vrabel said after the game.

“I don’t know. But that’s neither here nor there. I’m happy for our players. I think these guys, they’re figuring out how to win. They’re figuring out how to practice. I guess it’s humbling to have these people want to — whoever that is — cheer for us.

Whether that’s the Patriots, or Drake Maye, or me, or anybody else.” The New England Patriots went down to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans in Week 7. It marked a return to the city for Mike Vrabel, who was fired after six seasons as the team’s head coach. Vrabel was asked about his return multiple times during the week and both teams were interested to see how it would play out. Ultimately, Vrabel got the last laugh as his Patriots left Nashville with a dominant 31-13 win, and it could have been much worse. The Patriots gained 387 total yards of offense and Drake Maye was pretty much perfect.

The young quarterback completed 21 of his 23 pass attempts for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Rhamondre Stevenson had his best game of the season, rushing 18 times for 88 yards and one score. On defense, the unit held the Titans to 255 total yards and just 39 net rushing yards. The Titans also converted just three of 10 third down tries turned the ball over twice. Several players could have received a game ball for this performance, but Maye had his own idea. Just as Vrabel finished giving his postgame speech, Maye jumped in to make sure his coach was recognized.

The New England Patriots’ postgame locker room was filled with emotion on Sunday as rookie quarterback Drake Maye surprised head coach Mike Vrabel with the game ball following a dominant win over the Tennessee... [Video link (the original post has since been deleted/private)]. Vrabel brought his new Patriots back to the stadium where he once coached, just six days after the 1-6 Titans fired head coach Brian Callahan. It was a memorable game thanks to his players. During his tenure with the Titans, Vrabel won NFL Coach of the Year and guided the team to consistent postseason trips. He downplayed the game’s emotional significance in public..

But his players clearly understood what this matchup meant. The Patriots’ offense hummed with rhythm and balance, and their defense never allowed Tennessee to find any momentum. But the defining moment came after the game. As Vrabel addressed his team in the locker room, praising their effort and reminding them that “there’s so much better football to be played,” Maye interrupted this time to honor his coach. Handing over the game ball, Maye told Vrabel: The New England Patriots bounced back from a season-opening loss with a come-from-behind victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Drake Maye made sure to commemorate the occasion with a nice gesture for Mike Vrabel: “It’s awesome, just rallying around coach,” Maye said following the game, per team-provided video. “I know how much he cares about us, how much of a player’s coach he is. I took that football that I kneeled it out with, handed it right to (Preston “Stick” Rogers), our equipment guy, and we’ll get coach that ball… I think it’ll mean a lot to him. It took everybody, but obviously he’s leading the charge and that meant something special.” Vrabel, of course, secured his first victory as the organization’s head coach during the game and probably would have gotten one anyway.

Maye did more than enough to contribute to the momentum-building win, playing perhaps his best game as a professional and totaling three touchdowns and zero interceptions on the afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium. Vrabel was the Titans’ head coach from 2018 to 2023 — the same team the Patriots beat 31-13 on Sunday. After the game, Maye gifted the game ball to his head coach, saying, “Coach Vrabel, we love playing for you. Glad you're our head coach. We love you.” Typically, it’s the coaches who present game balls to players. Never miss an update!

Download our app now. Mike Vrabel, head coach of the New England Patriots, received a game ball from quarterback Drake Maye after the team’s 31-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans, his former team. Vrabel, who was let go from the Titans after a 6-11 season in 2023, expressed gratitude for his new role, emphasizing the team's potential for improvement. Under Vrabel, the Patriots have surprised many with a 5-2 start, marking their win with a strong offensive and defensive performance. The Titans, meanwhile, continue to struggle, holding a 1-6 record and facing leadership changes following the firing of coach Brian Callahan. The Patriots will look to build on their success, aiming to refine their game further and maximize their performance potential.

The Titans are expected to face challenges with their interim coach as they attempt to salvage their season. As the Patriots continue to rise, Vrabel's leadership is proving vital, showcasing that the team's best is yet to come, while the Titans must navigate a tough rebuilding phase. The summary of the linked article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence technology from OpenAI © 2025 BVM Sports. Best Version Media, LLC.

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