Former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel has been selected to the Patriots Hall of Fame by a fan vote, the team announced Wednesday.
Vrabel will become the 34th member of the Patriots Hall of Fame. He was one of three finalists for this year’s honor, along with former head coach Bill Parcells and offensive guard Logan Mankins. Vrabel will be enshrined with former offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia at a later date and time to be determined.
Over his eight seasons in New England, Vrabel won three Super Bowls and was named to one All-Pro team and one Pro Bowl. He started 110 of 125 regular-season games, recording 148 sacks, 55 tackles for loss, 13 forced fumbles and 11 interceptions. Vrabel also provided several clutch performances in the playoffs, notching six sacks and catching touchdown passes in Super Bowl XXXVIII and Super Bowl XXXIX as a goal-line tight end.
Vrabel’s part-time role on offense — which resulted in 10 career touchdown receptions — captured his career as one of the toughest and most versatile players in the early years of the Bill Belichick era.
“Mike’s leadership and versatility were principal to one of the most successful eras in franchise history, propelling the Patriots to three Super Bowl titles in four years and establishing multiple NFL records for consecutive-game win streaks. Many Patriots players have made contributions in all three phases of the game, but none more significantly than Mike,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. “He was an eight-year starter on defense who also regularly contributed on special teams and is the only player in NFL history to score touchdowns on his first 10 career receptions, including touchdowns in back-to-back Super Bowl victories.
“He was respected for his football intellect and was destined to become a head coach in this league. I look forward to welcoming him back to New England, where his induction will preserve his legacy as one of the greatest players in franchise history.”
The Patriots originally signed Vrabel as a free agent in 2001. The team won Super Bowls in three of the next four seasons and reached the Super Bowl again in 2007, Vrabel’s penultimate season with the team. He was traded to Kansas City ahead of the 2009 season and finished his career with two years in Kansas City.
Vrabel is the eighth three-time Super Bowl champion to enter the Patriots Hall of Fame after Troy Brown (2012), Tedy Bruschi (2013), Kevin Faulk (2016), Ty Law (2014), Matt Light (2018), Willie McGinest (2015) and Richard Seymour (2022).