VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES FROM NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL AND WIDE RECEIVER KAYSHON BOUTTE, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS HEAD COACH MIKE MCDONALD AND WIDE RECEIVER JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA (RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SHOTLIST) SHOWS: SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 3, 2026) (NFL NETWORK – Editorial use only. Must courtesy 'NFL Network'. No resales. No monetisation.) 1. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL SPEAKING AT SUPER BOWL DAILY MEDIA AVAILABILITY AT TEAM HOTEL 2. (SOUNDBITE)(English) PATRIOTS HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL AFTER BEING ASKED WHY PEOPLE LIKE TO SEE UNDERDOGS DO WELL, SAYING: "No, we've always tried to focus on how things are going to go right and not worry about what could happen and go wrong. As far as, I think I would say the majority of Americans or a majority of people probably are more underdogs than they are favorites, you know favorites are the talented, elite, top 10 percent and most groups are made out of a lot of people that are average and 80 percent and we're trying to make the 80 percent a little bit better. Talent's talent, there's a lot of things that are God-given, we try to focus on things that we can realistically improve." 3. WHITE FLASH 4. (SOUNDBITE)(English) PATRIOTS HEAD COACH MIKE VRABEL AFTER BEING ASKED IF LEGALIZED GAMBLING PUTS ANY ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON THE TEAM, SAYING: "Yeah, the pressure in our business is always going to be there, whether people wager on it legally or not and we understand the nature of this business and how competitive it is. As you can see the turnover in coaching staffs, turnovers in rosters, the draft every year, how competitive this business is as it starts to bleed into college and the landscape that we're starting to see so gambling has nothing to do with our willingness to work and the pressure that we're under…and the expectations." 5. PATRIOTS WIDE RECEIVER KAYSHON BOUTTE SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT PLAYERS MEDIA AVAILABILITY 6. (SOUNDBITE)(English) PATRIOTS WIDE RECEIVER KAYSHON BOUTTE AFTER BEING ASKED HOW IT IS PLAYING FOR COACH VRABEL, SAYING: "I mean it's a great playing for Coach Vrabs. I mean he's the reason why we're here today. Came in, talked about identity, everybody believed in it and I mean, I would say it paid off." 7. WHITE FLASH 8. (SOUNDBITE)(English) PATRIOTS WIDE RECEIVER KAYSHON BOUTTE AFTER BEING ASKED HOW THIS SEASON HAS BEEN FOR HIM, SAYING: "I mean this year has been great, honestly. I want to focus on steadily improving day in, day out. Super Bowl is five days away so that's the focus." SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 3, 2026) (NFL NETWORK – Editorial use only. Must courtesy 'NFL Network'. No resales. No monetisation.) 9. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS HEAD COACH MIKE MCDONALD SPEAKING AT SUPER BOWL DAILY MEDIA AVAILABILITY AT SAN JOSE CONVENTION CENTER 10. (SOUNDBITE)(English) SEAHAWKS HEAD COACH MIKE MCDONALD AFTER BEING ASKED WHY PEOPLE LIKE TO SEE UNDERDOGS DO WELL, SAYING: "Well, I think people are interested in it because those are the best stories. You look at all of our, the media entertainment, those are best movies, best shows, all that type of stuff. For us, you know, look, we said it after the (NFC) championship game that we didn't care, we really don't. I think what was important for us was to become a championship team. We weren't that in the spring, we were on our way, that's what we wanted to become but in order to get to a stage like this and win a game like this, It's got to be real and that's what you have to become and that is what our focus was on so, but it's great, people are going to talk, there's a lot of attention and that is what makes the game so great. There's a lot fans out there and it's exciting but that's out of our control it's not how we operate on a day to day basis so, the process has been a lot of fun. Becoming the team that we've become has been an awesome journey." 11. WHITE FLASH 12. (SOUNDBITE)(English) SEAHAWKS HEAD COACH MIKE MCDONALD AFTER BEING ASKED ABOUT BEING A DEFENSIVE FOCUSED HEAD COACH WINNING SUPER BOWL, SAYING: "Brady (reporter off-camera), I just, you know me, I just want us to win the game, and so, and put us in the best position we possibly can to win the game. If we win it, that'll be the last thing on my mind. I'll be really happy for the 12s (Seahawks fans), for our players, coaches, that's going to be the stuff that really means, that's going to special to me and really the rest of the crew." 13. SEAHAWKS WIDE RECEIVER JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA SPEAKING AT PLAYERS MEDIA AVAILABILITY 14. (SOUNDBITE)(English) SEAHAWKS WIDE RECEIVER JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA AFTER BEING ASKED HOW SUPER BOWL IS GOING SO FAR, SAYING: "It's been good, a little hectic, but you know, eyes on the prize, you know staying focused, staying ready and ready to get to practice tomorrow and play some ball." 15. WHITE FLASH 16. (SOUNDBITE)(English) SEAHAWKS WIDE RECEIVER JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA, WHO IS A DALLAS MAVERICKS AND LAKERS FAN, AFTER BEING ASKED HOW HE FELT WHEN LUKA DONCIC WAS TRADED TO LAKERS, SAYING: "Oh yeah, I remember it. It was shocking, honestly. Me being a Dallas native, it was shocking. Couldn't believe it. Was a little happy he went to the Lakers, that I'm a Lebron (James) fan, but yeah, so it was kind of bittersweet." STORY: New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel not only feels at ease with his team's underdog status, he also sees it as an integral part of American culture as they get ready for their Super Bowl showdown with Seattle. "The majority of Americans, or a majority of people, probably are more underdogs than they are favorites," Vrabel explained during Tuesday's press conference in Santa Clara. "Favorites are the talented, elite, top 10%. And most groups are made out of a lot of people that are average and 80%, and we're trying to make the 80% a little bit better," he added. It's a philosophy that has carried the Patriots to their first Super Bowl under Vrabel's leadership, a remarkable achievement in his inaugural season with the team. The 50-year-old Ohio native won three Super Bowl championships with the Patriots as a player. The former linebacker is now looking to join an elite group of coaches who have won a Super Bowl both as a player and as a head coach. As a player, Vrabel was known for his versatility as a two-way force. In Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers in 2004, he caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the fourth quarter, while also recording two sacks and a forced fumble. (Production: David Grip)
(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)
