How Mike Vrabel has given his son, BC lineman Tyler, the blueprint for success
"All throughout my life, he’s given me little bits of advice.”
When Tyler Vrabel and the Eagles take on Rutgers this Saturday at noon, a familiar face will be in the crowd soaking in the game.
It’s not just a familiar face for Vrabel, but also one for his teammates, all of New England, and even football fans around the country. Vrabel’s father, Mike, who was a consensus All-American at Ohio State, won three Super Bowl rings with the Patriots in the 2000s, and is now the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, has built a reputation as a household name in New England and beyond.
But he’s also a dedicated father, and he takes time out of his hectic schedule to see Tyler play. The Titans face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night, which gives Mike a prime opportunity to watch Tyler in action.
“We text pretty regularly,” Tyler said, “but I see him whenever I can see him.”
After playing two games and redshirting last fall, Tyler is now Boston College’s starting left tackle. The 6’5, 310-pound gentle giant has helped the Eagles rack up 244 rushing yards per game to start the season, and he’s been instrumental as running back AJ Dillon has wreaked havoc on opposing defenses.
Vrabel’s personality on the field is the polar opposite of his disposition off it. On the field, he’s a nightmare matchup with quick feet, strong hands, and pure brute force. Off it, he’s charismatic, laid back, and goofy.
“He can be a little childish sometimes, but he’s still young,” fellow lineman Ben Petrula said, grinning. “He’s just a hard worker and a really good kid. He wants to do right by everybody on the O-line, and that’s something we hold him accountable for.”
When asked about Petrula’s latest facial hair choice, Vrabel smirks, strokes his own patchy beard, and says, “He’s real grown up with the mustache. As you can see, I’ve got the nice full beard going.”
That combination of lighthearted off the field and a menace on it stems from his childhood. Growing up in a football household helped Tyler latch onto the game at a young age.
Patriots punter Josh Miller with his son Caleb (16 months) and daughter Olivia, 3, as they greet Tyler Vrabel, 4, wearing quarterback Tom Brady’s helmet, shoulder pads, and jersey following practice at their facilities outside Gillette Stadium. Tyler Vrabel is the son of linebacker Mike Vrabel.
Frankly, it was tough for him to avoid, but he eventually grew to love the sport himself. In his first year of tackle football, in fourth or fifth grade, he remembers putting on his pads and playfully going at it with his dad.
It wasn’t anything too serious, but Mike was there to show Tyler the basics even though he had plenty of other obligations at the time. Mike brought Tyler to the Patriots locker room whenever he could. Tyler said he doesn’t remember much about the experience, but he knows he was blown away by what he saw.
Over the years, the father-son guidance has become less general and instead more concrete and specific. Some of that comes on the field, but more often it’s related to off-the-field situations.
“As I’ve gotten older, it’s more smaller things,” Tyler said. “Not even technique-wise, just how to carry yourself as a man on and off the field. All throughout my life, he’s given me little bits of advice.”
As Tyler contemplated his future in high school, though, Mike took a largely hands-off approach. Of course, he was there to guide him and weigh the pros and cons of different spots, but he never pressured him into football or toward a certain school.
🎥 Head coach Steve Addazio’s Tuesday media availability ahead of BC’s game at Rutgers.#WeAreBC🦅 pic.twitter.com/GkWgunfM6i
— Boston College Football (@BCFootball) September 17, 2019
Tyler actually seriously considered playing baseball in college, but he ultimately realized football was the better fit. He also figured out that left tackle would be his niche, and from there, he blossomed into the player he is now.
“He’s an excellent teammate and a great player,” BC quarterback Anthony Brown said. “He’s really working hard right now. I feel like he’s going to be a great player. It takes time with the younger players, but his experience alone is going to help him improve tremendously.”
Though Mike plans to attend Saturday’s game, Tyler said Mike won’t do anything that a normal dad wouldn’t do. He might offer a little feedback – some good, some bad – but he never goes out of his way to lecture him or coach him more a typical father. Of course, he knows much more than a typical father, so those pieces of wisdom carry a lot of weight.
Tyler spoke to the Boston Globe about wanting to create a name for himself. He’s already done that by carving out a key role as a redshirt freshman, and chances are he’ll continue to improve, but he’s also honored to continue the Vrabel legacy and make his father proud.
“His dad was a great NFL player, and he’s a head coach right now,” Petrula said. “I think that put something into his work ethic. Being around a guy that played so many years in the NFL, and really had success at the next level, it gave him the blueprint of what to do and how to do it. That helps everybody around him be a better player, too.”
