No matter where he is or how the game unfolded, Mike Vrabel follows a ritual that predates his rise to the NFL’s biggest stages.

After the New England Patriots finish their game, the head coach reaches out by phone or text to one of the most influential figures in his life: his former high school football coach, Gerry Rardin of Walsh Jesuit High School.

Per Karen Garuegin of Mass Live, that bond was strengthened recently when Vrabel spent last year with the Cleveland Browns, giving him and Gerry Rardin more opportunities to reconnect.

The two spent time golfing, reminiscing, and reflecting on how a relationship formed decades ago continues to shape one of football’s most respected leaders.

A constant, inspirational figure for Vrabel

As Vrabel prepares for his first Super Bowl appearance as a head coach, he remains deeply rooted in the people who helped mold him, and Rardin remains at the top of that list after coaching 35 years at Walsh Jesuit High School.

“It doesn’t matter if Mike‘s in Miami, or if he’s coming home from somewhere, we’ll either text for a while, or he’ll call,” Rardin said. “It’s been amazing.”

Speaking with MassLive at the San Jose Convention Center ahead of Super Bowl Opening Night festivities, Vrabel smiled when Rardin‘s name came up. He explained why maintaining that connection still matters.

“Gerry made an impact on a lot of people. And Gerry always put the team and our school before himself and his family,” Vrabel said. “I didn’t recognize that at the time. I was a loudmouth high school kid.”

After the AFC Championship win over Denver, Vrabel and Patriots director of sports performance Frank Piraino made sure to contact Rardin. Piraino called first, setting the tone for a memorable conversation.

“Frank was back at the hotel room. He said the flight’s been cancelled. So he and Mike were headed to some steakhouse next door,” Rardin said.

“Mike and Frank have been so great about keeping in touch. It’s really neat. We were laughing and joking a lot that night.”

Although Rardin was invited to attend the Super Bowl as a guest of Vrabel and Piraino, recent hip replacement surgery prevented the trip.

“We went back and forth about that,” Rardin said. “But I told them this won’t be it (for the Super Bowl). There will be others. And Mike said: ‘Yup, you got it.'”

Win or lose against the Seattle Seahawks, Vrabel will reach out again afterward.

“Gerry‘s tough. He’s fought against some battles with cancer, and (his hip replacement),” Mike Vrabel said. “He’d be here if it wasn’t for that.”

A foundation built long before the NFL

At Walsh Jesuit High School, Vrabel played defensive end, linebacker, and even tight end under Rardin, eventually earning a scholarship to Ohio State.

That versatility later caught the attention of Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels, who famously deployed Vrabel as a goal-line tight end with the Patriots.

One of Rardin‘s favorite stories underscores Vrabel‘s toughness. During his junior year, Vrabel played despite fractured vertebrae, an injury that initially threatened his career.

“He had to wear a brace that went from his chin to his waist. And he could not get in a 3-point, or 4-point stance at all,” Rardin said.

“So he had to play up all the time because he had some fractured vertebrae that two football doctors said your career is done.

“But he finally found one doctor at the Cleveland Clinic that said ‘I’m going to put you in this brace, and I think you’re going to be OK.'”

Now, with AFC Championship appearances for the Tennessee Titans and a Super Bowl run with the Patriots, Rardin isn’t surprised by Vrabel‘s success.

Drawing inspiration from the nickname of Walsh Jesuit High-the Warriors-he embraced a “road warrior” mentality that fueled a 9-0 road record. Now, the Patriots look to embody the spirit of their embattled coach and win the NFL Championship.