FOXBOROUGH – Mike Vrabel was deep in conversation as he arrived at Patriots practice on Wednesday, accompanied by a special guest: Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, who came by to observe from the sidelines.
Mazzulla, a longtime Patriots fan from Johnston, Rhode Island, has attended previous practices under both Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo. He enjoys learning from other coaching styles and gaining insights into team dynamics.
“Joe’s great. From the time I arrived, he reached out, and I’ve really appreciated that,” Vrabel said. “We’re probably very different in personality, but that’s actually what I admire most about him. He’s always seeking new ways to learn whether it’s strategy, leadership, or team building. I really enjoy talking with him, and I’m glad he brought his son along today.”
Mazzulla’s stepson, Michael Harden, plays football at Xaverian Brothers High School and is listed as a 6-foot-2, 215-pound outside linebacker, per his Hudl profile.
Last year, Patriots coach Jerod Mayo shared that Mazzulla had even sat in on some defensive meetings. At the time, Mazzulla said he gained valuable insights, especially regarding pre-snap communication and disguising defensive formations concepts he believed were transferable to basketball defensive schemes.
“Those details are really important,” Mazzulla said last September. “It helped me see how to conceal a defensive setup at the beginning of a possession and shift into something different later.”
Meanwhile, the Celtics are navigating a challenging offseason. Jayson Tatum is recovering from a torn Achilles, and Jaylen Brown underwent knee surgery but is expected back for training camp. Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, and Luke Kornet have departed through trades and free agency, and Al Horford remains unsigned.
Mazzulla took over following Ime Udoka’s suspension after the 2022 Finals. In three seasons, he’s led the Celtics to a .740 win percentage the highest in NBA history for coaches with more than one season and delivered Boston’s first title since 2008.
Now, with a reshaped roster and the potential absence of Tatum, Mazzulla and the Celtics face significant adjustments. On Wednesday, he spent the morning observing the Patriots, who are also in a transition phase as Vrabel begins his first season as head coach.
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