Landry played his first six seasons under Vrabel.
After spending his collegiate days at Boston College, Harold Landry played the first six years of his NFL career under Mike Vrabel with the Tennessee Titans.
When the 28-year old knew the writing was on the wall for his future in Tennessee this offseason, signing with the New England Patriots to both return to the Boston area and reunite with his old coach was an easy decision.
“[Vrabel’s] meant a lot. He’s played a big role in my development as a player, and also in person,” Landry said Tuesday. “I was excited to come back because he knows my skill set. He knows how I operate, and I think throughout my career, he and his staff have done a great job of putting me in positions to go out and be productive and help the team, and that’s what I’m looking forward to.
“That was one of the main reasons I came because I knew Vrabes and his staff knew me, the familiarity with the scheme and all of it. It just fits with what I do with my skill set.”
Much of that defensive staff in Tennessee is now in New England under Vrabel — which which Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, who served as Landry’s line coach in Tennessee.
Landry’s skillset shined under their tutelage after being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. The pass rusher tallied over 40 career sacks en route to earning one Pro Bowl nod and a lucrative five-year, $87.5 million contract extension in 2022.
“I was getting excited about the staff [Vrabel] was putting together,” Landry said. “They do a great job of figuring out who they have on the roster on that side of the ball, what are their skill sets and putting them in position to be successful.
“I feel like that’s what they’ve done with me and that’s what they’ve done with a lot of great players in Tennessee and what I expect them to do here.”
After signing a three-year, $43.5 million deal to follow his old coaches to Foxboro, Landry expects to play a big role along the edge for a Patriots defense that finished last in the league in sacks last season.
While his pass rush win rate has fallen in recent years, Landry led the Titans with nine sacks last season and remained an effective defender against the run.
“I pride myself on being versatile and productive,” Landry said. “I want to be a guy that they can move me around but also they can just keep me on the edge and I can win a one-on-one and I can go and be productive. But I want to be that swiss army knife.. that they can move around and go out and make plays for the team.”