Mike Vrabel has retired the Walsh Jesuit High School football jersey
Akron-born NFL star Mike Vrabel’s jersey number was banned from Walsh Jesuit’s high school game against St. Ignatius. See pictures and sounds here.
CUYAHOGA FALLS – NFL legend Mike Vrabel attended a pregame party at Walsh Jesuit High School on Friday night, mingling with students in the stands, participating in the coin toss and giving a speech in the Warriors locker room shortly before kickoff.
During a ceremony at the end of the first quarter of Walsh’s 42-7 victory over St. Ignatius, the Warriors retired the jersey number Vrabel wore as a high school football star, becoming the first athlete in Walsh history to receive the honor.
Vrabel, a Browns coach and player personnel consultant, concluded his acceptance speech on the field at Conway Memorial Stadium by saying, “We have to win a game.”
At this point, Walsh and St. Ignatius were tied 7-7, but the Warriors scored 21 points in the second quarter to take a 4-0 record.
“Having Mike Vrabel here has been one of the coolest experiences for me as a head coach,” Walsh coach Nick Alexander said. “Having him in the locker room with us, seeing him just being one of us, how he fits into our coaching staff, I want him here every day. It’s been awesome.”
More on Walsh’s victory over St. Ignatius: Warriors win in series for the first time since 1982
Walsh coaching legend Gerry Rardin, professional golfer Ryan Armour and Cleveland Browns coach attend Mike Vrabel’s jersey retirement
Vrabel was fully committed and felt the love.
Former longtime Walsh football coach Gerry Rardin hosted the jersey retirement ceremony. Many of Vrabel’s former teammates attended the festivities, some of them traveling from out of state. Two Browns assistants — wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea and tight ends coach Tommy Rees — were in attendance, as was another prominent Walsh graduate, professional golfer Ryan Armour.
A sign with Vrabel’s No. 84 now adorns the outside of the press box.
“I appreciate them putting this together,” Vrabel said. “I mean, there are no other jerseys out there. So I think that’s pretty cool.”
Is there a story behind No. 84?
“I always thought I was a tight end, and I went to Penn State (for a visit),” Vrabel said. “Joe Paterno (asked me), ‘What position?’ I was on a recruiting trip and I said, ‘I’m a tight end.’ And before I could say, ‘And defensive end,’ he said, ‘Oh, tight ends are a dime a dozen. I could find one of them down in Bellefontaine.’ He said, ‘We’re looking for defensive ends.’
“I said, ‘Well, I guess I’m a defensive end then.’ And he knew how valuable guys are that can put pressure on the quarterback. So, to his credit, I said, ‘Well, I’m never going to say I’m a tight end again.’ I wanted to say, ‘Hey, I’m a D-end and a tight end.’ So it was funny that he told me that in 1992.”
The Cleveland Browns tight ends have learned what Mike Vrabel accomplished when he tried his hand at this position in the NFL
It was worth prioritizing defense without giving up his passion for the role of tight end.
Vrabel, 49, was born in Akron and grew up in Springfield Township and Stow. He was a star in football, basketball and track – he threw the shot put and discus – at Walsh before becoming a two-time All-America defensive end at Ohio State University and playing 14 NFL seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1997-2000), New England Patriots (2001-08) and Kansas City Chiefs (2009-10).
Vrabel won three Super Bowls with the Patriots (2001, 2003 and 2004 seasons). As an outside linebacker, he was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2007 and to the first All-Pro team. As a part-time tight end in goal-line situations, he caught a total of 12 passes in the regular season and the playoffs – all for touchdowns.
“That’s efficiency,” joked Vrabel.
With the Patriots, Vrabel caught touchdown passes from future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady in two consecutive Super Bowl victories.
“I’m just proud that I’ve played a lot of different positions,” Vrabel said. “I’ve played a lot of different roles for the team, whether it was special teams, multiple positions on defense, and then when the opportunity came up to go on offense, I went there and played on offense.”
Vrabel has helped the Browns in a variety of ways this season, most visibly as a hands-on tight ends coach helping Rees. When asked if he brags to the Browns tight ends about his efficiency at the position, Vrabel said, “I always tell those guys, yeah. But they show my touchdowns and, I mean, they give me hell for it.”
What Mike Vrabel brought to the Cleveland Browns in his advisory role
After his playing days, Vrabel moved into coaching, serving as an assistant coach for Ohio State (2011–13), linebackers coach for the Houston Texans (2014–16), and defensive coordinator for the Texans (2017) before spending six seasons (2018–23) as head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
A few months after the Titans fired Vrabel in January with a record of 56-48, including 2-3 in the playoffs, he joined the Browns as a consultant.
“What surprised me this year was the same thing that surprised me in Vrabel’s first year at Tennessee,” Rardin said. “He threw himself into this job. I went to (the Titans’ organized team activities) his first year. I stayed at his house. I was surprised. It was like he had been doing this for 20 years.”
“I think (the Browns) are very lucky. I don’t know the guys on the Cleveland Browns, but (coach) Kevin Stefanski impresses me. He says, ‘Hey, (Vrabel) is a good guy, and I want to get as many good people on my football team as possible.’ That impresses me because I’ve heard people say, ‘Oh, wouldn’t he be worried about his job security and all that?’ But Stefanski? No way. He just cares about getting the best people on his team.”
O’Shea said Vrabel has been an invaluable resource for the Browns and it’s not uncommon to see him jumping into drills at practice.
“Watching him work with our players every day, being out there on the field, leading the scout team and just doing his job, it’s really great,” O’Shea said.
Working for the Browns also allows Vrabel to visit his parents Chuck and Elaine in northeast Ohio more often. They enjoyed the special evening in Walsh.
“It’s so great to see that the kids (who grew up with Vrabel) are grown now,” Chuck Vrabel said. “They’re grown and have their kids here with them.”
Chuck and Elaine’s son is also all grown up, and now his jersey is being retired at his old stomping ground. He also received Walsh’s Outstanding Alumni Award last month.
“It’s so great to see him back here,” Rardin said.
More on Mike Vrabel and the Browns: How Cleveland’s tight ends and coaches have benefited from the presence of Jesuit legend Walsh
Nate Ulrich can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
