How Patriots coach made strong impression on first-rounder over ‘4.5 hours of BBQ’

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How Patriots coach made strong impression on first-rounder over ‘4.5 hours of BBQ’

Chris Mason · MassLive

Tue, Feb 3, 2026 ·

2 min read

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SAN FRANCISCO — Mike Vrabel and Will Campbell became fast friends long before the Patriots made the left tackle the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

During their initial pre-draft meeting last January, Vrabel made a strong first impression on his future player. It was clear right away that the coach wasn’t afraid to get to know his team on a personal level.

“I mean, the first time (we) met, me and him ate barbecue for four and a half hours and sat down and talked,” Campbell said. “You could tell that he was just someone you want to play for. And it’s been awesome. I’ve enjoyed every single moment of this season. Playing for him, I don’t really ever want to have to play for anybody else.”

As the draft grew nearer, Vrabel and Campbell had another memorable encounter. During a private workout at LSU, Vrabel opted to grab a pad and line up on defense, and Campbell promptly planted him on his butt. The tackle estimated that was the fourth time they’d met, and once again, bonded over food in the aftermath.

This time it was Phil’s Oyster Bar & Seafood Restaurant in Baton Rouge, and the two had plenty of company.

“I knew what was at stake and they had eight or nine people there,” Campbell said. “It was great. We had a good workout. I took them to my favorite spot in Baton Rouge to eat. They all loved it... it’s got all the old LSU jerseys. They’ve got char-grilled oysters, seafood. They’ve got everything. If you’re down there, you need to go.”

As Campbell recounted these early interactions with Vrabel, he sat atop a riser at the Santa Clara Marriott, readying for Super Bowl 60. It’s been a whirlwind rookie season and Campbell has been glad to have an experienced coach like Vrabel to lean on.

“He’s been super nice to me and helpful, not only from the football aspect, he’s been a great mentor for me. He’s been through this,” Campbell said of the three-time Super Bowl champion. “He’s been in this exact moment. He sat at these microphones multiple times. So he has the player knowledge, he’s got the coach knowledge. So it’s been awesome.”

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