How Mike Vrabel can make NFL history with Patriots' Super Bowl win as player and coach

Mike Vrabel has a chance to join a unique fraternity if the Patriots win Super Bowl 60. 

A total of four players in NFL history have won the Super Bowl as a player and a coach. Vrabel – who was a three-time Super Bowl champion in eight seasons as a linebacker with the Patriots from 2001-08 – was asked how he will use that experience as a player to coach against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60 on Sunday. 

"I think I always try to use every experience that I've had over the course of 30 years of experience in this league whether that's as a player as a coach to help the team and to help individual players do their job," Vrabel said at his Tuesday press conference. 

"You only have so many opportunities to make a play," he said. “You have to be ready."

Vrabel took advantage of those chances as a player. Will he do the same as a coach? 

MORE: Revisting Mike Vrabel's time as a Patriots linebacker

How many Super Bowl winners as player and coach?  

Vrabel would become the fifth player to win the Super Bowl as a player and coach. A look at those other four individuals: 

Tom Flores

Flores was a backup quarterback for the Chiefs when they won Super Bowl 4 against Minnesota. He led the Raiders to victories in Super Bowl 15 and Super Bowl 18 as a head coach. He also was an assistant under John Madden when Oakland won Super Bowl 11. 

Mike Ditka 

Ditka played in two Super Bowls for the Cowboys – who were 1-1 in those games. He had two catches for 28 yards and a TD for Dallas in a 24-3 victory against Miami in Super Bowl 6. As a coach, he led the Chicago Bears to a 46-10 victory against New England in Super Bowl 20. 

Tony Dungy 

Dungy had a tackle for Pittsburgh in a 35-31 victory against Dallas in Super Bowl 13. As a coach, he led the Colts to a 29-17 victory against Chicago in Super Bowl 41. 

Doug Pederson 

Pederson was the backup quarterback for Green Bay behind Brett Favre in Super Bowl 31. As a coach,  Pederson led Philadelphia to a 41-33 victory against New England in Super Bowl 42. 

MORE: Inside Mike Vrabel's playoff record as a coach

Other Super Bowl participants as player and coach 

Three other individuals have been in the Super Bowl as a player and coach: 

Dan Reeves 

Reeves played in two Super Bowls for Dallas. He had one carry for seven yards in the 24-3 victory against Miami in Super Bowl 6. Reeves was 0-4 in the Super Bowl as a coach. He led Denver to three Super Bowl appearances (21, 22, 24) and Atlanta to one Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl 33 – a 34-19 loss to Denver. 

Ron Rivera 

Rivera played for Chicago under Ditka in Super Bowl 20 and won a championship as a player. As a coach, he led Carolina to an appearance in Super Bowl 50. The Panthers lost 24-10 to Denver. 

Gary Kubiak 

Kubiak was a backup quarterback for John Elway in three Super Bowl losses (21, 22, 24) and he was an assistant coach in three Super Bowl victories (29, 32, 33). Kubiak led Denver to the Super Bowl 50 victory against Carolina. 

MORE: Complete coaching timeline for Mike Vrabel, from Ohio State to Patriots

Mike Vrabel Super Bowl history 

Vrabel played in four Super Bowls with the Patriots and won three Super Bowls as a player. A look at his performance in those games. 

Super Bowl 36 

Vrabel completed his first season with the Patriots with four tackles – including a tackle for loss – in a 20-17 victory against the Rams. 

Super Bowl 38 

Vrabel had six tackles and two sacks in a 32-29 victory against Carolina. Vrabel caught a 1-yard TD pass from Tom Brady with 2:51 left in the fourth quarter to give New England a 29-22 lead. 

Super Bowl 39 

Vrabel caught a 2-yard TD pass from Brady to give the Patriots a 21-14 lead against the Eagles in the third quarter. He had six tackles in a 24-21 victory. 

Super Bowl 42 

Vrabel had two tackles in a 17-14 loss to the New York Giants, the Patriots' only loss of the season. Vrabel would play one more season in New England.