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Tommy DeVito Shares Coach Mike Vrabel’s Champion Mindset Ahead of Super Bowl
The New England Patriots are preparing for their 12th appearance in a Super Bowl, but only a select few players on this season’s roster have experienced the thrill of the ‘Big Game’ before.
Fortunately for the team, they have a head coach who understands the demands of leading a Super Bowl-caliber squad.
Mike Vrabel has enjoyed a remarkable first year at the helm of the Patriots, transforming a team that struggled with only four wins over the past two NFL seasons into a resilient contender. His past experience as a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots has played a vital role in instilling a winning attitude within the team.
As the Patriots gear up to face the Seattle Seahawks in the upcoming Super Bowl, what message does Coach Vrabel share with his players?
Backup quarterback Tommy DeVito shared insights during a conversation with Fox News Digital, stating, “We are going to the Super Bowl to win the Super Bowl. That’s it. We’re not just saying, ‘Oh, we made it to the Super Bowl. Cool.’ No, we’re going there to win it.”
Transitioning from a four-win team to AFC champions signifies an impressive turnaround for the franchise. However, it is evident that Vrabel does not aim for mere participation; his goal is victory.
Limited Super Bowl Experience
Notably, only five players—Carlton Davis III, Christian Elliss, Mack Hollins, Austin Hooper, and Milton Williams—on the Patriots roster have previous experience in a Super Bowl. The majority of the team, including DeVito, is eagerly pursuing their first championship rings.
DeVito remarked, “As much as everyone wants to be in that game, you want to be on the winning side of it. That other side I’m sure is not too much fun after.”
From Giants to Patriots
DeVito’s season began with the New York Giants, where he emerged as a fan-favorite quarterback. Called upon to step into the spotlight in 2023 and 2024 due to Daniel Jones’ injuries, DeVito joined the Patriots’ quarterbacks room after the Giants became crowded with new additions, including rookie Jaxson Dart, Russell Wilson, and Jameis Winston.
While at the Giants, DeVito absorbed valuable lessons from working within a Super Bowl-winning franchise. While he encountered the frustrating reality of two of the Giants’ victories against the Patriots, he remains aware that Foxborough boasts even more championship accolades.
Challenging Road to the Super Bowl
This year, the narrative surrounding the Patriots suggests that their path to the Super Bowl has been straightforward. Although their regular-season strength of schedule ranked low at 30th in the league, the playoffs presented formidable challenges. The Patriots faced three of the top five defenses, highlighted by their AFC Championship Game matchup against the top-seeded Denver Broncos.
DeVito acknowledges the skepticism surrounding the Patriots’ road to the Super Bowl, but he counters this perspective. “Everything revolves around your phone, whether you’re scrolling looking at cars, or watches, or dogs, or whatever else, you’re going to see a Patriots-something at some point. Back home when we played the Texans, all the analysts, reporters—everybody picked the Texans to win. It’s like, OK, if we had an easy schedule, why are you picking them to win?” he explained.
He further elaborates on the competitive nature of this season: “People think it’s very easy, but not all teams have to play Josh Allen twice, and it almost came down to a third team. And then to go on the road, I think they said we were the first team to go 9-0 on the road. Playing on the road is not easy, no matter what. No matter who the opponent is, the environment is hostile, it’s new weather, or whatever it is. It definitely is not easy winning games in the NFL, especially on the road, doing it as many times as we had.”
Ultimate Focus Is Key
The Patriots are poised for their expected return, with Vrabel leading the charge. The upcoming game requires unwavering focus, dedication, and teamwork—a sentiment echoed by DeVito. “It doesn’t matter what happened in the game, who played, or whatever it is. As long as that column says 1-0 after that week, it’s all that matters,” he stated.
On February 8, the Patriots will aim to achieve a final score of 1-0 at Levi’s Stadium. DeVito considers himself the ultimate team player, both on and off the field.
Engagement Beyond Football
As part of Progressive’s Backup campaign, DeVito recently surprised a fantasy football fan who faced the difficult punishment of running a lemonade stand in frigid Boston. Despite the freezing temperatures, DeVito joined the fan, surprising him and helping attract bystanders to their cause.
Reflecting on the experience, DeVito shared, “It was awesome. We had a lot of fun and got a lot of great content out of it, as well as some bystanders who might not have known what was going on. But they got some lemonade in five-degree weather. So, we made it work. Progressive has been great up to this point. They’ve been a ton of fun to work with.”
