New England Patriots
“He left players with 3 words on today’s plan: Belief, Identity, Rage.”
Mike Vrabel is one win away from the Lombardi Trophy. AP Photo/Matt Slocum
February 8, 2026 | 5:21 PM
2 minutes to read
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — It’s a beautiful day for football in the Bay Area.
When Super Bowl LX kicks off between the Patriots and Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium, it’s expected to be 66 degrees with a near-zero percent change of precipitation, a far cry from the snowy tundra New England played in during the AFC title game in Denver.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel opted for a fitting tune as part of his final pregame address to his team on Sunday.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Vrabel played U2’s “Beautiful Day” to open Sunday’s pregame meeting with his players from Santa Clara. Vrabel might be a fan of the Irish rock group, but the song selection holds a deeper meaning than just the pristine conditions in California.
“He told the story of Super Bowl XXXVI—and that it was a beautiful day [because] a team no one expected to win did, together,” Breer wrote on X.
Super Bowl XXXVI was the upset victory that jumpstarted New England’s two-decade dynasty, with Vrabel part of a Patriots club that upset the “Greatest Show on Turf” Rams despite entering the game as 14-point underdogs.
Fittingly, it was also U2 who performed the Super Bowl XXXVI Halftime Show at the Superdome in New Orleans — opening their set with “Beautiful Day.”
This is not the first time that Vrabel has incorporated music into his Super Bowl planning this week.
During Friday’s practice at Stanford University, Vrabel sent his team to the locker room to simulate the experience of dealing with a longer halftime break in the Super Bowl.
To set the tone for what to expect on Sunday, Vrabel then played songs from Bad Bunny — Sunday’s halftime show performer — while the players waited in the locker room.
The 2025 Patriots aren’t 14-point underdogs against the Seahawks on Sunday in Super Bowl LX. But, Seattle is entering the evening as 4.5-point favorites.
The odds might not be in Vrabel and the Patriots’ favor, but the New England head coach reportedly delivered a simple message to his players before Sunday’s showdown.
“He left players with 3 words on today’s plan: Belief, Identity, Rage,” Breer said.
Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.
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