Save the Date: Patriots Reveal Plans for Vrabel, Scarnecchia Hall of Fame Honors

Legendary former New England Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel and coach Dante Scarnecchia will each take their rightful place in the Patriots Hall of Fame this fall.

FOXBORO — In early May, former New England Patriots linebacker, and current Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel was announced as the 34th inductee into the Patriots Hall of Fame.

Accordingly, Patriots fans can now begin preparing to celebrate. Vrabel’s induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, Oct. 21 at noon ET at Gillette Stadium, as confirmed by the team on Friday. 

He will also join former assistant coach Dante Scarnecchia, who was named as a Class of 2023 contributor by Patriots owner Robert Kraft when the nomination committee held their annual meeting in April.

Vrabel, a seven-time finalist, edged former Patriots offensive lineman Logan Mankins and Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach Bill Parcells in a fan vote to determine the 2023 awardee.

Vrabel joined the Patriots as a free-agent in 2001. His signing remains one of the greatest in team history. Throughout his time in New England, Vrabel defined the word ‘versatility.’ He primarily started at both inside and outside linebacker. However, he often lined up on offense in short-yardage and goal-line situations. As a Patriot, he caught eight regular-season passes and two more in the playoffs. All 10 of his receptions were for touchdowns, including touchdown receptions in back-to-back Super Bowl wins over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXVIII and Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX (cred. Patriots.com). Vrabel routinely made his presence felt by making valuable contributions on various special teams units.

Although he finished his playing career as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, Vrabel will forever be remembered as a Patriot. He was a three-time Super Bowl champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX), as well as a Pro Bowler and First-team All-Pro in 2007. He was selected as a member of the New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team, as well as the Sports Illustrated All-Decade Team (2000–2009). He registered 48 sacks as a Patriot, which is the seventh-most in franchise history.

Vrabel joins Troy Brown (2012), Tedy Bruschi (2013), Kevin Faulk (2016), Ty Law (2014), Matt Light (2018), Willie McGinest (2015) and Richard Seymour (2022) as the eighth player to enter the Patriots Hall of Fame as a three-time Super Bowl Champion with the team.

Scarnecchia — a six-time Super-Bowl champion who had previously retired after the 2013 season and returned in 2016 — has rightfully earned his reputation as one of the Patriots most respected and revered coaches in franchise history.

With the Patriots, Scarnecchia held the titles of special teams coach, tight ends coach, special assistant and defensive assistant. He’d be named offensive line coach in 1999, and remained in that capacity following Bill Belichick’s arrival as head coach at the start of the millennium. He was officially on Belichick’s staff for five Super Bowl winning teams, earning his sixth ring while serving as a consultant on the 2014 (Super Bowl XLIX) squad.

In 2015, Scarnecchia received the Pro Football Writers of America’s Paul ‘Dr. Z’ Zimmerman Award — named for the late, longtime Sports Illustrated writer — recognizing his lifetime achievement as an NFL assistant coach.

In June, Scarnecchia will also be honored as a recipient of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Awards of Excellence for his contributions to the NFL, and the game, as a whole. 

The annual ceremony will be held on the Enel Plaza just outside the Patriots Hall of Fame presented by Raytheon Technologies. The outdoor ceremony is free and open to the public. Fans of all ages are welcome and encouraged to attend.

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