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BY WBZ-NEWS STAFF
MAY
3, 2023 / 3:19 PM / CBS BOSTON
BOSTON -- Mike Vrabel will finally be getting his red jacket in
Foxboro.
The three-time Super Bowl
champion was voted in as this year's inductee to the Patriots' Hall of Fame,
beating out retired lineman Logan Mankins and former head coach Bill Parcells.
Vrabel joined Bill Belichick's Patriots in 2001 as a free agent,
after four years in Pittsburgh where he played sparingly for the Steelers. He
carved out a critical role in a hurry under Belichick and Romeo Crennel,
though, starting 12 games in '01 and setting a new career high with three
sacks. He helped the Patriots' defense limit Kurt Warner and the Greatest Show
on Turf in Super Bowl XXXVI, and he'd end up recording three sacks in the
Patriots' run to another Super Bowl two years later, including two in the Super
Bowl win over Carolina. In the 2004 playoffs, Vrabel had two more sacks,
including one on Donovan McNabb in the Patriots' win over the Eagles.
With 48 sacks, Vrabel ranks seventh on the Patriots' all-time
list, despite playing in just 66 games.
He also pulled double-duty as a goal-line tight end, catching 10
passes in his regular-season career, all of which went for touchdowns. He also
caught two postseason touchdowns, with each of them coming in a Super Bowl.
Vrabel will be the eighth
three-time Super Bowl champion inducted into the Hall of Fame,
joining Troy Brown, Tedy Bruschi, Kevin Faulk, Ty Law, Matt Light, Willie
McGinest and Richard Seymour.
The date and time of Vrabel's induction has yet to be announced,
though it will have to fit into the schedule of Vrabel, who's currently the
head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
"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,"
Robert Kraft said.
"Many Patriots
players have made contributions in all three phases of the game, but none more
significantly than Mike. 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."
This year marked Vrabel's seventh consecutive year as a finalist
for induction. He'll be inducted along with retired offensive line coach Dante
Scarnecchia, who will enter as a contributor.
