http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/players/mike_vrabel/3747 Recent articles about Mike Vrabel en-us Part of the same defensive unit as Mike Vrabel and Luke Fickell, Matt Finkes was a force to be reckoned with on the front line.  A first team All-American in ’95, Finkes bounced around the NFL, NFL Europe, and even made an appearance in the XFL.  A true original “Silver Bullet,” Finkes epitomizes what we love to see on The Ohio State Buckeyes defense. Fri, 31 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/92_days_until_buckeye_football_means_92_matt_finkes/13733417 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/92_days_until_buckeye_football_means_92_matt_finkes/13733417 92 Days Until Buckeye Football means #92 Matt Finkes http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/92_days_until_buckeye_football_means_92_matt_finkes/13733417 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png One of the most well known Ohio State coaches is also one of the most well known former Ohio State and NFL player.  Mike Vrabel was one of the most versatile college defensive ends during an era in which ends weren’t expected to be that way.  He was a first team All-American as a senior and went on to be a star in the NFL, mainly playing for the New England Patriots.  He had 12 career receptions in the NFL, all of which went for touchdowns.  After ending his career with the Kansas City Chiefs, Vrabel retired in order to join the Ohio State coaching staff after the dismissal of Jim Tressel, coming back home to help his former teammate and Ohio State defensive linemen, Luke Fickell. Wed, 29 May 2013 12:00:59 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/94_days_until_buckeye_football_means_94_mike_vrabel/13716806 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/94_days_until_buckeye_football_means_94_mike_vrabel/13716806 94 Days Until Buckeye Football Means #94 Mike Vrabel http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/94_days_until_buckeye_football_means_94_mike_vrabel/13716806 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/b/8bc27b5c8282885621c6992815bf366d17093754/mini/CHIEFS_vs_COWBOYS_98c1.jpg “The Patriots haven’t had a consistently dominant pass-rusher since Mike Vrabel. Jones has a... Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:00:27 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/the_patriots_havent_had_a_consistently_dominant_pass_rusher_since_mike_vrabel_jones_has_a_good/13294810 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/the_patriots_havent_had_a_consistently_dominant_pass_rusher_since_mike_vrabel_jones_has_a_good/13294810 "The Patriots haven’t had a consistently dominant pass-rusher since Mike Vrabel. Jones has a good..." http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/the_patriots_havent_had_a_consistently_dominant_pass_rusher_since_mike_vrabel_jones_has_a_good/13294810 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Following a stellar 14-year NFL career, Mike Vrabel has returned to Ohio State as the defensive line coach, and in two years he's proven to be a very valuable assistant to the Buckeye program. Vrabel took the time recently to talk about his coaching career at Ohio State, and his philosophy on leading young men. Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:12:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/mike_vrabel_buckeye_for_life/13228111 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/mike_vrabel_buckeye_for_life/13228111 Mike Vrabel: Buckeye For Life http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/mike_vrabel_buckeye_for_life/13228111 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Especially when you do so with your bare forehead, as Mike Vrabel supposedly did before the Buckeyes game against Michigan last month. Former Patriots linebacker Vrabel, now an assistant with his alma mater Ohio State, was so pumped before the Big 10 rivalry match against the Wolverines on November 24 that he headbutted one of his players during pregame warmups.  Only problem was that while said player was wearing his helmet, Vrabel was not, and the end result was a nasty gash on the forehead that needed some stitches to close it up. The incident was nothing more than rumor and hearsay, until one of the guys from Eleven Warriors reached out to Vrabel’s wife Jen to confirm the story, and she went above and beyond by posting photographic evidence of the damage done to her hubby’s head on her Twitter account along with the following tweet… Sound advice from Mrs. Vrabel, although you’d expect a guy who’s been around football as much as Vrabel has would know better when it comes to helm... Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:00:43 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/ohio_state_assistant_coach_mike_vrabel_teaches_us_that_headbutting_a_helmeted_player_is_a_bad_idea/12380617 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/ohio_state_assistant_coach_mike_vrabel_teaches_us_that_headbutting_a_helmeted_player_is_a_bad_idea/12380617 Ohio State assistant coach Mike Vrabel teaches us that headbutting a helmeted player is a bad idea http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/ohio_state_assistant_coach_mike_vrabel_teaches_us_that_headbutting_a_helmeted_player_is_a_bad_idea/12380617 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png When he was in the NFL, Mike Vrabel was considered one of the smarter players on the field. The keyword in that statement is “when” he was in the NFL, because now that’s he’s out, he’s doing some pretty dumb things. Vrabel’s wife recently tweeted out a picture of her husband’s bruised and stitched forehead. According to the tweet, the former Patriot headbutted a player who was wearing a helmet while he wasn’t wearing one. And this all happened before a game, when the Bucks were preparing to take on Michigan over the weekend. Check out the tweet and photo below. @Derek11W Here's the pic to prove it! Best not to headbutt a guy w/a helmet on when you aren't wearing one!! #einstein http://t.co/Ey4V8b8m— jen (@JenVrabel1) December 06, 2012 @Derek11W He never told me how many stitches, I just know it was to the bone!— jen (@JenVrabel1) December 06, 2012 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:45:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/mike_vrabel_shows_off_stitches_bruise_from_headbutting_ohio_state_players_helmet_photo/12379684 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/mike_vrabel_shows_off_stitches_bruise_from_headbutting_ohio_state_players_helmet_photo/12379684 Mike Vrabel Shows Off Stitches, Bruise From Headbutting Ohio State Player’s Helmet (Photo) http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/mike_vrabel_shows_off_stitches_bruise_from_headbutting_ohio_state_players_helmet_photo/12379684 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png You see it a lot…football players get in each other’s faces to get pumped up, and often engage in some friendly headbutts to get the blood flowing. This custom is generally  harmless because both parties are usually wearing a helmet. Usually. Well, former Patriots linebacker and current Ohio State assistant coach Mike Vrabel must have forgot his playing days are over while getting amped for the Buckeyes’ final game of the season, their matchup a few weeks ago against arch-rival Michigan, and gave us a shining example of why you shouldn’t headbutt a football player if you’re not wearing a helmet. Vrabel, an All-American defensive end at Ohio State from 1993-1996, got so pumped before Saturday’s game that he headbutted a player, despite the fact that Vrabel was helmet-less and the player was not, and split his forehead open. Vrabel had to get stitched up and his forehead didn’t look pretty afterwards, as evidenced by the picture his wife tweeted out (below), but if you ask him…it was ... Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:11:26 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/mike_vrabel_headbutts_ohio_state_player_splits_head_open/12379333 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/mike_vrabel_headbutts_ohio_state_player_splits_head_open/12379333 Mike Vrabel Headbutts Ohio State Player, Splits Head Open http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/mike_vrabel_headbutts_ohio_state_player_splits_head_open/12379333 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png New England Patriots fans who watched Mike Vrabel play during the prime years of his career know that his intensity is what made him such an effective defender. Vrabel was one of the leaders of some Super Bowl-caliber defenses under Bill Belichick. Fortunately, he was wearing a helmet in those days. Now, Vrabel is an assistant coach at Ohio State — his alma mater. On Wednesday night, Derek Young of ElevenWarriors.com tweeted that Vrabel was “so pumped up before the Michigan game that his antics led him to splitting his head open.” Vrabel’s wife Jen then confirmed the rumor by tweeting the photo you see above with the following message. “Here’s the pic to prove it! Best not to headbutt a guy (with) a helmet on when you’re not wearing one!!” Indeed it is. Jen also added that she wasn’t sure how many stitches the wound needed but that Mike told her the cut was “to the bone.” It’s probably safe to say Vrabel won’t be shelling out any more agressive headbutts to get OSU players fired up Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:37:57 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/mike_vrabel_headbutted_ohio_state_player_without_a_helmet_cut_his_head_picture/12378538 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/mike_vrabel_headbutted_ohio_state_player_without_a_helmet_cut_his_head_picture/12378538 Mike Vrabel headbutted Ohio State player without a helmet, cut his head (Picture) http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/mike_vrabel_headbutted_ohio_state_player_without_a_helmet_cut_his_head_picture/12378538 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/1/91052af2dedb78a288eaa79ae617050ff1e8e522/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90333095.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0AEB25111CEBC103463614C3DE3DD2DEBA1D122FC54C969B2.jpg You know why Mike Vrabel won’t be headbutting Ohio State players before games from now on? This is what happened to his forehead before the Michigan game, according to his wife, Jen, who wants everyone to see the damage. Jen tweets (@JenVrabel1): Here’s the pic to prove it! Best not to headbutt a guy w/a helmet on when you aren’t wearing one!! Of course the inquisitive reporters from Ohio State site Eleven Warriors (@Derek11W) started asking about the damage. Jen: He never told me how many stitches, I just know it was to the bone! You read that right, Vrabel didn’t tell his wife how many stitches were in his forehead. Those are just the small things in life that don’t matter when you’re a second-year college coach trying to help win football games. This was posted on Eleven Warriors the day after the Michigan game. I was standing outside of tOSU tunnel at the game as the players came in and out for warmups. Vrabel ran by and out to the field with a bloody mess on his shirt. Wasn’t ... Thu, 06 Dec 2012 10:03:15 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/mike_vrabel_got_bloody_headbutting_helmet_before_michigan_game/12376597 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/mike_vrabel_got_bloody_headbutting_helmet_before_michigan_game/12376597 Mike Vrabel bloodied by headbutting OSU helmet http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/mike_vrabel_got_bloody_headbutting_helmet_before_michigan_game/12376597 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/3/937f96ea9f8eb108b1c58b97b75ac6dc2e9e914a/mini/vrabel-headbutt-forehead.jpg Mike Vrabel is an intense man. He loves football and Ohio State. He hates Michigan. Jen Vrabel tweeted a picture this morning of the aftermath of Mike’s pre-game decision to headbutt an Ohio State player- who happened to be wearing a helmet- We consider this a small price to pay for a Buckeye victory in The Game. (Better him than us though.) [Related: Buckeye Learnings] Thu, 06 Dec 2012 09:24:53 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/ohio_state_report_assistant_coach_mike_vrabel_headbutted_player_wearing_helmet_before_michigan_game/12376303 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/ohio_state_report_assistant_coach_mike_vrabel_headbutted_player_wearing_helmet_before_michigan_game/12376303 Ohio State Report: Assistant Coach Mike Vrabel headbutted player wearing helmet before Michigan game http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/ohio_state_report_assistant_coach_mike_vrabel_headbutted_player_wearing_helmet_before_michigan_game/12376303 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png When Urban Meyer took over the Ohio State football team, he gave Mike Vrabel a challenge if he wanted to stay on staff. The former OSU defensive lineman passed with flying colors, and the result is that Vrabel is a rising star in the coaching ranks. Mon, 14 May 2012 08:06:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/vrabel_fitting_in_on_osu_staff/10786961 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/vrabel_fitting_in_on_osu_staff/10786961 Vrabel Fitting In On OSU Staff http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/vrabel_fitting_in_on_osu_staff/10786961 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Boise State outside linebacker Shea McClellin already shapes up as one of the draft's best edge players, and he should get some bonus points in the Patriots' eyes for trying to model his game after Mike Vrabel. McClellin has told reporters that he admired Vrabel's playing style because of the value his versatility can bring to the defense. The Patriots will have the opportunity to add McClellin to their own defense this week at the NFL draft. McClellin is the focus of the 23rd installment of a 26-day series that will highlight draft prospects who could land with the Patriots... Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:00:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/shea_mcclellins_versatility_admiration_for_mike_vrabel_should_make_him_right_fit_for_patriots_in_draft/10620730 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/shea_mcclellins_versatility_admiration_for_mike_vrabel_should_make_him_right_fit_for_patriots_in_draft/10620730 Shea McClellin's Versatility, Admiration for Mike Vrabel Should Make Him Right Fit for Patriots in Draft http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/shea_mcclellins_versatility_admiration_for_mike_vrabel_should_make_him_right_fit_for_patriots_in_draft/10620730 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Former Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel has undergone a complete physical transformation since his retirement from football a few years ago, considering that his ESPN player page shows that he is now black and Filipino-American. Then again, this might not actually be Vrabel at all since ESPN has a history of screwing up player pages. And also because it looks exactly like Jordan Norwood of the Cleveland Browns.  ESPN: The Worldwide Leader in Completely Misrepresenting Athletes. [via Deadspin] http://twitter.com/TheNosebleeds Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:58:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/mike_vrabel_is_now_black_says_espn/9677407 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/mike_vrabel_is_now_black_says_espn/9677407 Mike Vrabel is now black, says ESPN http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/mike_vrabel_is_now_black_says_espn/9677407 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/b/8bc27b5c8282885621c6992815bf366d17093754/mini/CHIEFS_vs_COWBOYS_98c1.jpg Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer added another staff member today: Everett Withers, the current interim head coach at the University of North Carolina. Withers has been a collegiate coach for 17 years and has also worked seven seasons in the National Football League: six years (2001-06) as defensive backs coach with the Tennessee Titans under Jeff Fisher, and a year (1994) as a defensive quality control coach for the New Orleans Saints. In Columbus, he’ll serve as co-defensive coordinator with this year’s interim Head Coach Luke Fickell. Finishing up his fourth year at North Carolina, Withers was promoted to interim head coach at the school this past July and led the Tar Heels to a 7-5 record and to a berth in the Dec. 26 Independence Bowl against Missouri. He will coach the Tar Heels in the bowl game. Meyer also announced today that Mike Vrabel, who coached the team’s linebackers this season after a decorated, 14-year career in the NFL with the New England Patriots, has accepted... Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:10:47 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/ohio_state_keeps_fickell_vrabel_on_staff_add_defensive_coordinator/8878216 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/ohio_state_keeps_fickell_vrabel_on_staff_add_defensive_coordinator/8878216 Ohio State Keeps Fickell, Vrabel on Staff, Add Defensive Coordinator http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/ohio_state_keeps_fickell_vrabel_on_staff_add_defensive_coordinator/8878216 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/9/99218ff2609cf4b5f63ac961c998b03f0e2b8267/mini/Denver_Broncos_v_f5e1.jpg In addition to the hire of Everett Withers, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has decided to keep Mike Vrabel on the staff as their linebackers coach. Here's what Urban had to say:  “I had heard such great things about Mike Vrabel as a player, but the key thing for me was I wanted to talk football with him," Meyer said. “"I wanted to see him recruit, and I wanted to meet his family. I have since spent a lot of time with him, and he has a wonderful family." “I also spoke to a number of people I know well, who also know Mike very well, including Bill Belichick. Coach Belichick and I had a really good discussion about Mike. While Mike is young, we both agreed that the unique experiences he has had as a player, coupled with the things he has already accomplished as a coach and recruiter for Ohio State, has prepared Mike for this opportunity. I am very pleased he will be on the staff." Meyer has now named six assistants to his Ohio State staff. In addition to Withers and Vrabel, Lu Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:00:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/mike_vrabel_retained_as_linebackers_coach/8875969 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/mike_vrabel_retained_as_linebackers_coach/8875969 Mike Vrabel Retained As Linebackers Coach http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/mike_vrabel_retained_as_linebackers_coach/8875969 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/9/99218ff2609cf4b5f63ac961c998b03f0e2b8267/mini/Denver_Broncos_v_f5e1.jpg