Career GP/GS (Playoffs): 144/81 (16/14)

Over 10 NFL seasons, Vrabel has recorded 537 tackles (364 solo), 38.5 sacks, 10 interceptions for 68 yards and a touchdown, 31 passes defensed, 11 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.

Vrabel enjoyed the most productive season of his career in 2005, leading the team with a careerhigh 114 tackles (80 solo) while starting all 16 games for the first time in his career.

Vrabel has recorded eight career receptions in regular-season and playoff games, all going for touchdowns. He has caught six passes for eight yards and six touchdowns in the regular season and two passes for three yards and two touchdowns in the playoffs.

On Dec. 26, 2005, Vrabel became the first player to record two touchdowns and a sack in the same game since sacks became an official NFL statistic in 1982. In that game against the New York Jets, Vrabel caught a pair of 1-yard touchdown passes and also recorded a second-quarter sack.

Vrabel enjoyed another strong campaign in 2004, finishing second on the team with 5.5 sacks and fourth on the squad with 76 tackles (59 solo).

Vrabel continued to excel as a tight end in goal-line situations in 2004 by snaring three touchdown receptions, including a 2-yard touchdown grab from Tom Brady in Super Bowl XXXIX. Entering 2005, he has recorded five receptions in his career, all resulting in scores.

Vrabel set career highs in total tackles (76) and solo tackles (59) during the 2004 season, eclipsing the previous marks he set in 2002.

Vrabel led the Patriots with a career-high 9.5 sacks in 2003, the most by any Patriot in the Bill Belichick era and the most by a Patriot since Willie McGinest notched 9.5 sacks in 1996. Vrabel accomplished the feat despite missing three games due to injury.

Vrabel capped off 2003 with a strong postseason, finishing with three sacks, including two in Super Bowl XXXVIII. He also lined up as a tight end in the Super Bowl and caught the Patriots’ final touchdown of the game on a one-yard play from Tom Brady in the fourth quarter.

Vrabel recorded a career-high three sacks in the Patriots’ 9-3 win over Cleveland (10/26/03). It was the most sacks in a game by a Patriot since Henry Thomas collected three against St. Louis (12/13/98).

Scored his first career touchdown at San Diego (09/29/02) when he lined up as a tight end and grabbed a one-yard pass from Tom Brady. Vrabel was the first Patriot defender to catch a touchdown pass since linebacker John Tanner caught a two-yard toss from Jim Plunkett at Baltimore (11/24/74).

Intercepted two passes during the 2001 season, including one at N.Y. Jets (12/02/01). The turnover triggered a momentum change which saw the Patriots outscore the Jets 17-3 in the second half and defeat the Jets 17-16.

Vrabel applied pressure to Rams quarterback Kurt Warner in Super Bowl XXXVI, forcing an errant pass that was intercepted by Ty Law and returned 47 yards for a touchdown, giving the Patriots an early 7-0 advantage.

Vrabel recorded one of the biggest plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1997 playoffs, when he sacked Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe and forced him to fumble with less than two minutes remaining in the game. The Steelers were able to hold on for a 7-6 victory in an AFC Divisional playoff game versus New England (1/3).

Buffalo (9/10): Started at inside linebacker ... Led the team with 11 tackles (4 solo) in the Patriots' 19-17 victory over the Bills ... Halted Willis McGahee for a 2- yard loss on a rush off left guard in the fourth quarter. at N.Y. Jets (9/17): Started at outside linebacker ... Notched seven tackles (3 solo), a half sack and a quarterback hit in the Patriots' 24-17 win over the N.Y. Jets ... Teamed with Richard Seymour to sack Chad Pennington for a 10-yard loss on a third-and-eight play in the fourth quarter. Denver (9/24): Started at outside linebacker and tallied eight tackles (5 solo) and a quarterback hit ... Teamed with Richard Seymour to stuff Tatum Bell for a 2-yard loss on a rush off right guard in the first quarter. at Cincinnati (10/1): Started at linebacker and recorded five tackles (3 solo) in the Patriots' commanding 38-13 victory over the Bengals. vs. Miami (10/8): Started at outside linebacker ... Registered five tackles (4 solo) in the Patriots' 20- 10 win over the Dolphins ... Teamed with Ty Warren to stuff Ronnie Brown for no gain on a rush up the middle in the first quarter. at Buffalo (10/22): Made the start at outside linebacker ... Finished second on the team with eight tackles (3 solo), a sack and a forced fumble in the Patriots' 28-6 road victory over the Bills ... Strip-sacked JP Losman for a 6-yard loss and the ball was recovered by Vince Willfork in the second quarter ... Teamed with Junior Seau to stuff Robert Royal for no gain on a tight end screen in the second quarter. at Minnesota (10/30): Started at outside linebacker and led the team with seven solo tackles in the Patriots' commanding 31-7 road win against the Vikings ... Registered a quarterback hit and an interception in the victory ... Intercepted a Brad Johnson pass intended for Jermaine Wiggins in the fourth quarter. Indianapolis (11/5): Started at outside linebacker and recorded six tackles (5 solo), a half sack and two quarterback hits ... Teamed with Rosevelt Colvin to sack Peyton Manning for a 7-yard loss in the fourth quarter. vs. N.Y. Jets (11/12): Started at outside linebacker and collected one tackle. at Green Bay (11/19): Made the start at outside linebacker and registered six tackles (5 solo), one and a half sacks, a pass defensed and a forced fumble in the Patriots' 35-0 road victory over the Packers ... Teamed with Ty Warren to sack Aaron Rodgers for a 6-yard loss in the third quarter ... Deflected a pass intended for Bubba Franks on the first play of the fourth quarter ... Came off the edge and strip-sacked Rodgers for a 6-yard loss, and the loose ball was recovered by Mike Wright at the Packers' 45-yard line. vs. Chicago (11/26): Started at outside linebacker but switched to inside linebacker when Junior Seau left the game with an injury in the second quarter ... Finished the game with nine tackles (5 solo) in the Patriots' 17-13 victory over the Bears ... Limited Desmond Clark to a 5-yard catch on a third-and-10 play in the second quarter. vs. Detroit (12/3): Started at inside linebacker ... Finished tied for second on the team with 10 tackles (7 solo), two interceptions and a fumble recovery in the Patriots' 28-21 comeback victory over the Lions ... Teamed with Tully Banta-Cain to stuff Kevin Jones for no gain on a rush up the middle in the first quarter ... Pounced on a Jones fumble that was forced by Artrell Hawkins at the Patriots' 5-yard line in the second quarter ... Combined with Vince Wilfork to stop Jon Kitna for no gain on a rush up the middle in the fourth quarter ... Picked off a Kitna pass intended for Dan Campbell in the fourth quarter ... Sealed the victory by intercepting a Kitna pass along the sideline that was intended for Mike Williams late in the fourth quarter. at Miami (12/10): Started at outside linebacker as the team opened the game in a 4-3 alignment ... Recorded six tackles (3 solo). vs. Houston (12/17): Started at inside linebacker and notched five tackles (1 solo) in the Patriots' commanding 40-7 victory over the Texans ... Teamed with Richard Seymour to stuff Ron Dayne for no gain on a rush off left tackle in the first quarter. at Jacksonville (12/24): Started at inside linebacker and registered three tackles (2 solo) in the Patriots' 24-21 division-clinching win over the Jaguars. at Tennessee (12/31): Started at inside linebacker ... Posted four tackles (2 solo), a sack and a forced fumble in the Patriots' 40-23 victory over the Titans ... Sacked Vince Young for an 8-yard loss and caused a fumble that was recovered by the Titans.

2005 (16/16/0/0): Was voted a defensive captain for the 2005 season by his teammates … Scored his first career defensive touchdown with a 24-yard interception return for a score against Carolina (09/18/05) … Notched a career-high 15 tackles in the 21-16 victory over Buffalo (10/30/05) … Led the team with a career-high 114 tackles (80 solo) … Grabbed two touchdown receptions in the Patriots’ 31-21 victory over the N.Y. Jets (12/26/05).  Oakland (9/8): Registered five solo tackles, including a sack in the Patriots’ 30-20 victory over the Raiders on opening night … Dropped Kerry Collins for a 6- yard sack with a strong outside rush in the third quarter … Stonewalled Lamont Jordan for a 4-yard loss on a screen pass in the second quarter. at Carolina (9/18): Collected four tackles (3 solo) and an interception … Notched his first career defensive touchdown when he intercepted a Jake Delhomme pass and returned it 24 yards for a score in the third quarter … Stonewalled Stephen Davis for no gain on a rush off left tackle in the second quarter. at Pittsburgh (9/25): Registered three solo tackles and a pass defensed in the Patriots’ 23-20 victory over the Steelers … Stonewalled Willie Parker for a 6-yard loss on a screen pass in the first quarter … Knocked down a pass intended for Hines Ward in the fourth quarter. San Diego (10/2): Lead the team with 10 tackles (7 solo) … Notched a solo tackle on special teams coverage units. at Atlanta (10/9): Recorded three tackles (2 solo), including a half sack in the Patriots’ 31-28 win over the Falcons … Teamed with Jarvis Green to sack Matt Schaub for a 1-yard loss in the third quarter. at Denver (10/16): Collected a career-high 13 tackles (7 solo) … Teamed with Willie McGinest to stuff Mike Anderson for a 2-yard loss on a rush off right tackle in the first quarter … Teamed with Rosevelt Colvin to drop Tatum Bell for a 5-yard loss on third-and-three rush in the third quarter. Buffalo (10/30): Led the team with a career-high 15 tackles (11 solo) and a pass defensed in the Patriots’ 21-16 victory over the Bills on Sunday Night Football … Teamed with Vince Wilfork to stonewall Roscoe Parrish for a 6-yard loss on a reverse in the first quarter … Knocked down a first quarter pass intended for Tim Euhus in the end zone … Teamed with Ty Warren to stop Willis McGahee for no gain on a rush up the middle in the third quarter … Dropped Kelly Holcomb for a 7-yard sack on third-and-eight in the fourth quarter … Sealed the game by stuffing Eric Moulds for no gain on a fourth-and-eight pass play. Indianapolis (11/7): Led the team with 10 tackles (6 solo) and an interception … Teamed with Tedy Bruschi to stonewall Edgerrin James for a 3-yard loss on the first play from scrimmage in the first quarter … Combined with Rosevelt Colvin to stop James for a 2-yard loss on a rush off left end in the second quarter … Intercepted a Peyton Manning pass intended for Dallas Clark on third-and-11 in the second quarter. at Miami (11/13): Notched eight tackles (6 solo) in the Patriots’ 23-16 road victory over the Dolphins … Teamed with Tedy Bruschi to stuff Ronnie Brown for no gain on a third down rush off left end in the first quarter … Combined with Willie McGinest to stonewall Ricky Williams for a 2-yard loss on a rush off left end in the fourth quarter … Led the team with two special teams stops. New Orleans (11/20): Led the team with 11 tackles (8 solo) in the Patriots’ 24-17 win over the Saints … Gave the Patriots a 14-0 advantage with a 1-yard touchdown reception with 13:30 remaining in the second quarter. at Kansas City (11/27): Registered seven tackles (5 solo) … Teamed with Vince Wilfork to stuff Larry Johnson for a 2-yard loss on a rush up the middle in the first quarter … Collected a special teams stop on coverage units. N.Y. Jets (12/4): Recorded five tackles (3 solo) and a pass defensed in the Patriots’ 16-3 victory over the Jets … Knocked down a pass intended for Justin McCareins in the fourth quarter … Collected a solo special teams tackle. at Buffalo (12/11): Notched two tackles in the Patriots’ commanding 35-7 road victory over the Bills … Registered a special teams tackle on coverage units. Tampa Bay (12/17): Notched six tackles (5 solo), a sack and a forced fumble in the Patriots’ 28-0 shutout victory over the Buccaneers … Sacked Chris Simms with a vicious bind-side hit, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Willie McGinest late in the second quarter. at N.Y. Jets (12/26): Started at inside linebacker and also saw time at tight end in goalline situations … Led the team with seven tackles (3 solo) and a sack in the Patriots’ 31-21 victory over the Jets … Grabbed two receptions for three yards and two touchdowns in the victory … Gave the Patriots a 7-0 lead with a 1-yard touchdown grab with 5:27 remaining in the opening quarter … Got open in the back of the end zone and hauled in a 2-yard touchdown grab to give the Patriots a 14-7 lead in the second quarter … Dropped Brooks Bollinger for a 10-yard sack with a fierce outside pass rush in the second quarter. Miami (1/1): Saw limited action at linebacker and notched five solo tackles.

2005 Postseason (2/2/0/0): Jacksonville (1/7): Led the team with 10 tackles (6 solo) in the Patriots' 28-3 AFC Wild Card victory over the Jaguars ... Stopped Fred Taylor for a 2-yard gain on a third-and-three pass play in the first quarter ... Stonewalled Fred Taylor for no gain on a rush off left guard in the fourth quarter. at Denver (1/14): Collected seven tackles (5 solo) and a sack ... Dropped Jake Plummer for a 7-yard sack in the third quarter ... Collected a special teams stop on coverage units.

2004 (16/15, 3/3): Started 15 of 16 regular season games at outside linebacker … Finished second on the team with 5.5 sacks … Finished fourth on the squad with 76 tackles (59 solo) … Caught three touchdown passes as a tight end in goal line situations, including a 2-yard score from Tom Brady in Super Bowl XXXIX against the Eagles. Indianapolis (9/9): Tallied four tackles (2 solo) in the Patriots’ 27-24 victory over the Colts … Stuffed Edgerrin James for a 1-yard loss on a rush off right tackle. at Arizona (9/19): Recorded four solo tackles, a sack and a pass defensed in the Patriots’ 23-12 victory over the Cardinals … Stopped Emmitt Smith behind the line of scrimmage for a 2-yard loss … Sacked Josh McCown for a 13-yard loss … Batted down a pass intended for Bryant Johnson. at Buffalo (10/3): Collected nine tackles (7 solo), a sack and a pass defensed in the Patriots’ 31-17 victory over the Bills … Sacked Drew Bledsoe for a 6-yard loss. Seattle (10/17): Collected six solo tackles, a sack and a pass defensed in the Patriots’ 30-20 victory over the Seahawks … Sacked Matt Hasselbeck for a 3-yard loss on a third-and-six play … Batted down a pass intended for Darrell Jackson late in the fourth quarter. N.Y. Jets (10/24): Notched six tackles (5 solo) in the Patriots’ 13-7 win over the Jets. at Pittsburgh (10/31): Registered four tackles (3 solo) against the Steelers … Collected one solo tackle on special teams. at St. Louis (11/7): Led the team with nine tackles (7 solo) in the Patriots’ 40-22 road win against the Rams … Made a diving catch for a 2-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. Buffalo (11/14): Tallied five tackles (4 solo) in the Patriots’ commanding 29-6 victory over the Bills … Combined with Ty Warren to stonewall Willis McGahee for a 3-yard loss on a rush in the first quarter. at Kansas City (11/22): Registered seven tackles (6 solo) in the Patriots’ 27-19 Monday Night victory over the Chiefs. Baltimore (11/28): Notched four tackles (2 solo) in the Patriots’ 24-3 victory over the Ravens … Provided the initial pressure on Kyle Boller before Tedy Bruschi registered the sack and forced fumble that resulted in Jarvis Green’s fumble recovery for a touchdown. at Cleveland (12/5): Played in a reserve role at linebacker and notched six tackles (5 solo), including a sack in the Patriots’ 42-15 victory over the Browns … Sacked Luke McCown for a 15-yard loss. at Miami (12/20): Registered three tackles and a half a sack …Teamed with Roman Phifer to drop A.J. Feeley for a sack in the first quarter. at N.Y. Jets (12/26): Recorded four solo tackles, including a sack in the Patriots’ 23-7 victory over the Jets … Dropped Chad Pennington for an 8-yard sack on a third-and-eight play. San Francisco (1/2): Tied the score at 7-7 with a 1-yard touchdown reception from Tom Brady in the second quarter, his second touchdown grab of the season. Indianapolis (1/16): Notched eight tackles (6 solo), a sack and a forced fumble in the Patriots’ 20-3 victory over the Colts … Sacked Peyton Manning for an 8-yard loss, while forcing the signal caller to fumble, but the loose ball was recovered by the Colts at their own 22-yard line. at Pittsburgh (1/23): Recorded six tackles (5 solo) and a fumble recovery in the Patriots’ 41-27 AFC Championship victory over the Steelers … Recovered a Jerome Bettis fumble that was caused by Rosevelt Colvin … Provided the key block that allowed Rodney Harrison to return a Ben Roethlisberger interception 87 yards for a touchdown. Philadelphia (2/6): Collected four tackles (2 solo), including a sack in the Patriots’ 24-21 victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX … Sacked Donovan McNabb for a 16-yard loss … Grabbed a touchdown for the second consecutive time in the Super Bowl with a 2-yard scoring strike to give the Patriots a 14-7 lead.

2003 (13/9, 3/3): Led the team with a career-high 9.5 sacks despite missing three games because of injury … Named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for December after tallying 27 tackles (17 solo), four sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception and a fumble recovery in four Patriots victories … Registered a career-high three sacks against Cleveland (10/26) … Notched a career-high 11 tackles against Miami (12/07). Philadelphia (9/14): Registered his first sack of the season when he dropped Donovan McNabb for a two-yard loss after a strong outside pass rush … On the next play, pressured McNabb in the pocket and forced him to throw his first interception of the game. Miami (10/19): Returned from a three-game absence and saw limited action at linebacker. Cleveland (10/26): Tallied five solo tackles, including three sacks in the Patriots’ 9-3 win over the Browns … All three sacks came on third down and ended Browns drives … Marked the first time a Patriots defender registered three sacks in a game since Henry Thomas collected three against the St. Louis Rams on Dec. 13, 1998. Denver (11/3): Returned to the starting lineup at outside linebacker and notched eight tackles (7 solo). Houston (11/23): Recorded three tackles and an interception … Picked off a Tony Banks pass on the first play in overtime. Indianapolis (11/30): Finished with six tackles, including two sacks and also forced a fumble … Sacked Peyton Manning and caused the signal caller to fumble, which was recovered by Dan Klecko, setting up the Patriots’ first touchdown in the first quarter … Sacked Manning for a five-yard loss in the fourth quarter. Miami (12/7): Tallied a career-high 11 tackles (4 solo), two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery … Combined with Willie McGinest to drop Jay Fiedler for a seven-yard sack in the second quarter … Recovered a fumble deep in Patriots territory in the third quarter … Sacked Fiedler for a 10-yard loss and forced the signal caller to fumble, but the ball was recovered by the Dolphins … Teamed with Jarvis Green to sack Fiedler in the end zone for a safety. N.Y. Jets (12/20): Collected seven tackles (6 solo) and two sacks … Sacked Chad Pennington for a 7-yard loss in the first quarter … Also dropped Pennington for a six-yard sack. Buffalo (12/27): Registered five solo tackles and an interception … Dropped back in coverage and picked off a Drew Bledsoe pass intended for Mark Campbell in the first quarter. Tennessee (1/10): Registered eight tackles (7 solo) and a sack in the Patriots’ 17-14 divisional playoff victory … Sacked Steve McNair for a one-yard loss in the second quarter. Indianapolis (1/18): Started at outside linebacker and registered seven tackles (4 solo) and a pass defense in the Patriots’ 24-14 AFC Championship victory over the Colts. Carolina (2/1): Finished second on the team with six tackles (4 solo), including a game-high two sacks and also caught a touchdown pass and forced a fumble in the Patriots’ 32-29 Super Bowl XXXVIII victory … Gave the Patriots a 29-22 lead with his second career touchdown reception, a one-yard catch from Tom Brady, with 2:51 left in the game … Became the first defensive player since William Perry (Super Bowl XX) to record a touchdown on offense … Sacked Jake Delhomme for a six-yard loss with a vicious blindside hit that forced the signal caller to fumble … The loose ball was recovered by the Patriots and broke a scoreless tie by leading to the first touchdown of the game … Dropped Delhomme for a nine-yard sack on third-and-eight to halt a Panthers drive in the first quarter.

2001 (16/12, 3/3): Started 12 of 16 regular season games and all three postseason games at linebacker … Snared a career high two interceptions … Set career highs, which were later eclipsed in 2002, in total tackles (60), solo tackles (37), assisted tackles (23) and sacks (3.0). Miami (10/7): Recorded his first career interception when he snatched a Jay Fiedler pass on the Dolphins first offensive play of the game … The Patriots scored two plays later on an Antowain Smith nine-yard run. Indianapolis (10/21): Collected six tackles (4 solos), including a sack of Peyton Manning for a six-yard loss on third and goal forcing a field goal attempt which was blocked. Atlanta (11/4): Accumulated a career-high 1.5 sacks as the Patriots recorded a season-high nine sacks against the Falcons … Teamed with Bobby Hamilton to sack Chris Chandler for a seven-yard loss and dropped Michael Vick for no gain. Buffalo (11/11): Recovered a Bills onside kick attempt late in the fourth quarter with the Patriots leading 14-11. N.Y. Jets (12/2): Recorded his second interception of the season and of his career when he snagged a Vinny Testaverde pass that had been tipped at the line of scrimmage on the Jets second play from scrimmage in the third quarter … The turnover triggered a momentum change which saw the Patriots outscore the Jets 17-3 in the second half and defeat the Jets 17-16. Cleveland (12/9): Set a new single-game career-high with nine tackles (5 solos) as the Patriots defense held the Browns to just 50 yards rushing on 19 carries (2.6 avg.) … Joined with Lawyer Milloy to sack Tim Couch for a nine-yard loss. Buffalo (12/16): Tied for a game-high with eight tackles, including a career-high six solo tackles … Tackled running back Shawn Bryson for a five-yard loss. Miami (12/22): Collected five tackles and was part of the defensive front that held the Dolphins to just 58 yards rushing on 22 carries (3.1 avg.) in the Patriots 20-13 victory. Oakland (1/19): Made his first career postseason start in action at linebacker and recorded three tackles as the Patriots held the Raiders to just 77 yards rushing on 30 carries (2.6 avg.). Pittsburgh (1/27): Tallied four tackles (3 solos) as the Patriots limited the Steelers to just 58 yards rushing on 22 carries (2.6 avg.). St. Louis (2/3): Applied pressure to Rams quarterback Kurt Warner forcing an errant pass that was intercepted by Ty Law and returned 47 yards for a touchdown, giving the Patriots an early 7-0 lead in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Mike returned to school in the 2004 offseason, completing his degree in exercise science at Ohio State.

Mike has an interest in coaching after his playing career and has annually volunteered in a football camp in Columbus, Ohio during the offseason.