Mark Daniels: Elliot Wolf, Mike Vrabel partnership leads Patriots to Super Bowl

Story by

Story by
Mark Daniels: Elliot Wolf, Mike Vrabel partnership leads Patriots to Super Bowl

Mark Daniels · MassLive

Tue, Jan 27, 2026 ·

5 min read

About Our Ads

DENVER – The NFL’s version of an arranged marriage doesn’t always work.

This happens when a head coach and general manager aren’t brought in together. Those situations can lead to people not seeing things the same way when it comes to roster building.

That’s why it doesn’t always work. When it doesn’t, it costs people jobs.

That was seen in Tennessee when the Titans hired general manager Ron Carthon in 2023, five years after Mike Vrabel was hired. Vrabel lasted one season before the Titans fired him, and Carthon got a chance to hire his own head coach.

This offseason, Vrabel entered another situation where he wasn’t tied to the leader of the front office in de facto general manager Elliot Wolf .

This had the makings of an awkward situation. That’s why what’s transpired with the Patriots this season has been so remarkable.

This offseason, Vrabel laid out what he wanted when it came to roster building. What transpired next was Wolf and his colleagues remaking a Super Bowl-caliber roster after a 4-win season.

Standing inside the visitors’ locker room at Mile High Stadium, Wolf told MassLive how much he enjoyed working with Vrabel and how proud he was to see the Patriots back in the Super Bowl following their AFC Championship win.

“Absolutely. It’s really cool. Everything he says is genuine,” Wolf said. “He sets a standard for these guys and what the expectation is. These guys appreciate that because they know if they fall short of that expectation, there’s no one to blame but themselves. It’s really cool to see these guys come together and work for a common goal.”

Wolf isn’t the type of person who will take the credit, but the team’s executive vice president of player personnel had an excellent offseason.

On Sunday, the Patriots played 47 players in their conference title game. Wolf played a part in 30 of those players over the last two seasons. The Patriots’ front office completely overhauled the roster after Vrabel was hired.

Against the Broncos , the team played 25 players who were signed or drafted by the Patriots in 2025.

Wolf and his staff nailed free agency and the draft. On offense, they reshaped the offensive line, bringing in four new starters, signing starting right tackle Morgan Moses and veteran center Garrett Bradbury . They also drafted starting left tackle Will Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson .

The team’s two starting receivers on Sunday, Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins , were important free-agent additions. The team took a chance on Diggs, coming off an ACL injury, and it resulted in the Patriots’ first 1,000-yard receiving season since 2019.

BETTING:Patriots moneyline is listed at +195 for their Super Bowl showdown with the Seahawks on DraftKings . Our complete DraftKings Sportsbook review shows you how to navigate their platform. For all of the best Super Bowl odds , check out our expert insights.

On defense, the free agent signings of Milton Williams , K’Lavon Chaisson , and Khyiris Tonga made the Patriots’ defensive line one of the best in the NFL. That group hit Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham seven times and sacked him three times on Sunday. They also limited Denver to 3.3 yards per carry.

They accomplished this without their leading pass rusher, Harold Landry , who was another stout signing this offseason.

By signing Robert Spillane , the Patriots upgraded their linebacker unit. They also added veteran Carlton Davis , who’s helped create one of the best 1-2 cornerback combinations with Christian Gonzalez .

Wolf’s fingerprints were all over the Patriots’ roster this season.

“I just kind of find myself being proud of the players and proud of the coaching staff that was able to come in here and flip this culture to where it needed to be,” Wolf said. “I’m just really excited for these players because everyone always talks about expectations, and expectations don’t really mean anything. What matters is what you go do on the field. These guys haven’t listened to any of that noise all year. Here we are. I’m really excited for these guys to get one more opportunity.”

The Patriots’ front office also made a handful of moves post-training camp that added important depth to the roster.

Defensive tackle Cory Durden was released by the New York Giants after camp. The Patriots signed him to the practice squad on Aug. 28, and he played in 17 regular-season games and all three playoff games for the team.

Another big pickup was defensive tackle Leonard Taylor . He was released by the New York Jets after six weeks and signed to the Patriots’ practice squad. Taylor played in all three playoff games and on Sunday blocked a potential game-tying field goal in the fourth quarter.

After a 4-win season, Kraft made a big change, firing Mayo. He stuck by Wolf even after hiring a veteran head coach who isn’t afraid to share his opinion.

This offseason, Wolf and Vrabel worked together, and now, the Patriots head to Super Bowl 60.

“I mean, this is why we do it,” Wolf said. “I never go into a season expecting to lose. I never go into a game expecting to lose. I would say the players on this team feel that way as well. It’s just been really awesome to watch these guys work together.”

More Patriots Content