NFL Writer Picks Drake Maye, Mike Vrabel For MVP, Coach Of The Year Awards

The Athletic’s Mike Jones has been a fan of the work of both New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye for much of the season.

The national NFL writer tabbed Vrabel as his Coach of the Year pick at the midway point of the 2025 campaign and called Maye’s Patriots one of just three “contenders” in the AFC back in Week 11.

Following New England’s 14-3 regular season, Jones is ready to crown the former Pro Bowl linebacker and second-year signal-caller as the league’s Coach of the Year and Most Valuable Player, respectively.

Jones revealed his picks for all of the NFL’s major end-of-season awards on Thursday.

“Any other year, (Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew) Stafford would be a slam dunk for MVP. And yet, there is another,” he wrote. “Maye took a massive leap forward in Year 2 and has served as the catalyst for the Patriots’ surprising success. Passing for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, Maye registered some big-time performances down the stretch to help New England earn the AFC’s No. 2 seed. He’s also used his legs to buy time and escape pressure behind a shaky offensive line and has run for 450 yards and four touchdowns.”

Maye has as good a chance as anyone to win the regular season MVP heading into the playoffs.

Vrabel on the other hand, faces a lengthy list of fellow Coach of the Year award contenders.

“He took a listless team that had deteriorated on Bill Belichick’s watch and continued its spiral in one season under Jerod Mayo, and in one season’s time, Vrabel has elevated the quarterback, gotten the defense right and has quickly restored the Patriots to one of the leading teams in the league,” Jones said. “The Patriots boast the third-best offense, a top-10 defense and an impactful special teams unit and now appear to have as legitimate a shot at contending for a Super Bowl as anyone.”

Vrabel made all kinds of history this campaign, including becoming just the second coach to complete an 8-0 regular season on the road during his first year with a team.