Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel gave a simple explanation for how the Houston Texans turned things around after years of losing. When asked how DeMeco Ryans got the Texans back on track, Vrabel didn’t hold back. His honest answer comes right before New England faces Houston’s tough defense in the Divisional Round.
According to ClutchPoints, Vrabel said, “I mean they got a lot of draft picks. And they signed some good free agents.” The Patriots just beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card game, with their defense recording six sacks and 11 quarterback hits against Justin Herbert. Quarterback Drake Maye struggled in his playoff debut with two turnovers, but the defense carried the team to victory.
This matchup is a true battle between two rebuilding teams. Both franchises went through three straight losing seasons before turning things around. For the Patriots, the struggles were especially painful after their legendary run ended. Bill Belichick went 12-22 in his final two seasons, and Jerod Mayo posted a 4-13 record in his only year as head coach before Vrabel arrived in 2025.
Operation Sports App
Your ultimate companion for sports gaming. Access in-depth coverage, thoughtful discussion, and a community built around the games—and sports—you love.
Your ultimate sports gaming companion.
Both teams used the same winning formula to rebuild their rosters
The Texans went through similar struggles from 2020 through 2022 before Ryans took over. Vrabel’s simple formula of getting good draft picks and signing strong free agents is exactly what Houston did. They picked Derek Stingley in 2022, then hit big with C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. in 2023. They added Kamari Lassiter in 2024 and Jayden Higgins in 2025.
Houston also made smart moves in free agency, similar to how the Dodgers landed Kyle Tucker with a big investment. They signed tight end Dalton Schultz, defensive end Danielle Hunter, and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, who have all made major impacts this season.
New England followed the same plan for their rebuild. Vrabel and the front office signed important free agents including Milton Williams, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, and linebacker Robert Spillane. They also hit home runs in the draft with Maye, offensive lineman Will Campbell, and running back TreVeyon Henderson.
Vrabel has personal ties to the Texans organization. He started his coaching career in Houston in 2014 and worked his way up to defensive coordinator in 2017 before leaving to become head coach of the Tennessee Titans. The coaching change and rebuild process can be tough on everyone involved, much like how divorce affected Tom Brady’s performance during his final season.
Now Vrabel is trying to lead the Patriots to their first AFC Championship Game since 2018. But he’ll need to beat the Texans and Ryans, who are trying to advance past the divisional round for the first time in franchise history.
Published: Jan 17, 2026 12:30 pm