Mike Vrabel can play linebacker, coach a Super Bowl team and walk a tightrope.
Coming off of leading the Patriots to an AFC title, Vrabel managed Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine to praise Eagles receiver A.J. Brown without crossing the line into anything that might be questioned as tampering given that Brown is rumored to be available in a trade and the Patriots have a need at receiver.
Vrabel was Brown’s head coach during his first three NFL seasons with the Titans and was not happy when then-Titans general manager Jon Robinson opted to trade Brown to the Eagles during the 2022 draft rather than work out an extension with the burgeoning star.
“I think the relationship with players, and specifically you asked about A.J., has meant a lot,” Vrabel said. “I watched him grow. I watched him mature. I’m proud of him. I’m proud of the father that he is. I’m proud of the husband (that he is).
“And that has nothing to do with where he plays or where he played. So those are the things that are important. We reach out, text each other during the things that happen good to each other — and sometimes things don’t go so well for the people that you’re close with, and you text those as well. So, it’s been a two-way street of support and reminders of what got us to where we are.”
The Patriots have Stefon Diggs, who had 1,013 receiving yards, signed for two more seasons. Tight end Hunter Henry was the next most-prolific passing target, followed by receivers Kayshon Boutte (551) and Mack Hollins (550).
Eagles manager Howie Roseman has an “always listening” approach on trades and is considered one of the shrewdest dealers in the NFL.
Brown didn’t hide his frustrations with his role in the Eagles’ sputtering offense last season.
“You never know what someone is willing to do,” Roseman said. “Certainly, we’ve been in situations where there were guys we didn’t anticipate trading that we got an offer that was too good, and then you balance it with what you can get there.”
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said that he wants to keep Brown and he thinks Brown wants to stay in Philadelphia, but he added that he “can’t guarantee” anything about the 2026 roster just yet.
Brown recently gushed over the way that Vrabel got through to him — a relationship that started off rocky and grew — during an appearance on the “Dudes on Dudes” podcast with Patriots greats Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman.