The Patriots have made significant strides under Mike Vrabel.
In his inaugural season as head coach, Vrabel has taken New England back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2018. The Patriots triumphed in Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams.
On Sunday, New England secured a narrow 10-7 victory over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, played at support Field at Mile High. The snowy matchup featured a mere 387 total yards combined. Under Vrabel, the Patriots have given up only 26 points this postseason, which ranks as the fourth fewest by a head coach in his first three playoff contests with a franchise, as per ESPN Research.
This win places Vrabel among an elite group of eight head coaches who have led their teams to the Super Bowl in their first season. Here’s a look at those head coaches who have achieved this remarkable feat.
Gary Kubiak, Denver Broncos
Season: 2015
Kubiak was brought to Denver after the dismissal of John Fox, who had helmed the team for four seasons. Known for his ability to develop high-performing offenses, Kubiak started the season strong at 7-0, establishing the Broncos as a formidable force. Denver concluded the regular season with a 12-4 record.
even with Peyton Manning’s mid-season injury, Brock Osweiler took over as the starting quarterback before Manning returned in time for the playoffs and Super Bowl 50, where the Broncos defeated the Panthers 24-10.
Season: 2009
After two seasons of exiting in the wild-card round and a notable legacy that included a Super Bowl XLI win over the Chicago Bears, then-Colts coach Tony Dungy retired following the 2008 season.
His successor?
Jim Caldwell, a former Penn State assistant coach, who had previously served under Dungy as quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2001. Caldwell wasted no time making his mark.
In his first season, Caldwell achieved a stellar 14-0 start, securing a bye in the wild-card round despite two consecutive losses towards the end of the regular season.
The Colts showcased their dominance in the divisional and conference rounds with a 20-3 victory against the Baltimore Ravens and a two-touchdown win over the New York Jets in the conference championship, though they ultimately fell to the New Orleans Saints 31-17 in Super Bowl XLV.
Jon Gruden, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Season: 2002
In a rare situation, Gruden was traded to the Buccaneers in a move that reverberated throughout the NFL, with Tampa Bay sending two second-round picks and $8 million to the Oakland Raiders for his services.
After revitalizing a Raiders franchise that struggled with back-to-back 8-8 records, and leading them to an AFC Championship Game appearance (which they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Ravens) and an AFC South title, Gruden established himself as a prominent head coach. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers finished the previous season with a 9-7 record, which led to Tony Dungy’s departure, paving the way for Gruden’s acquisition.
In his inaugural season, Gruden guided Tampa Bay to a commendable 12-4 record.
The Buccaneers marched through the NFL playoffs, intercepting the ball nine times, including five in their Super Bowl XXXVII victory against Gruden’s former Raiders team.
Bill Callahan, Oakland Raiders
Season: 2002
As Gruden embarked on his new journey in Tampa Bay, Oakland found a new leader in Callahan, who started the season with a promising 4-0 record, an encouraging sign for a Raiders team that completed the regular season at 11-5. The Callahan-led squad cruised through the divisional and conference rounds before facing their former coach in Super Bowl XXXVII, where they were defeated 48-21.
Season: 1989
Following a legendary career capped by a Super Bowl XXIII title, Bill Walsh retired, allowing his defensive coordinator, Seifert, to step in as the new head coach. Seifert picked up right where Walsh left off.
In Seifert’s debut season, he led the 49ers to a compelling 14-2 record, with no opponent managing to score more than 30 points on their offense. His defensive prowess was evident during the playoffs, where San Francisco surrendered just 6 points, culminating in a Super Bowl XXIV victory.
Red Miller, Denver Broncos
Season: 1977
After the 1976 season in which the Broncos, under John Ralston, achieved a franchise-record nine wins, Ralston stepped down. The team then appointed Miller, known for creating the “Orange Crush” defense, who had a groundbreaking 1977 season. He led Denver to a franchise-best 12-2 record, marking their first postseason appearance and a Super Bowl spot, although they ultimately lost 27-10 to the Dallas Cowboys.
Don McCafferty, Baltimore Colts
Season: 1970
Following the 1969 season, when coach Don Shula departed from the Colts to join the Miami Dolphins, an opportunity arose for McCafferty’s first head coaching role. In his inaugural season, McCafferty led Baltimore to an 11-2-1 record, which included a 17-0 shutout against the Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round, followed by a conference championship win over the Raiders, securing a Super Bowl V appearance.
With a 16-13 victory against the Dallas Cowboys, McCafferty made history as the first head coach to win a Super Bowl in his rookie season.
ESPN Research contributed to this story.
