Fox Sports cameras captured Barmore going back and forth with Vrabel as both teams headed to the locker rooms. The situation quickly grew tense, to the point where the Patriots’ head coach had to step in personally to calm his defensive star. For a team locked in a fierce race for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, the moment underscored the emotional intensity and pressure the Patriots are carrying at this critical stage of the season.
After the game, Barmore did
Christian Barmore and Mike Vrabel just got into a heated exchange as they went to the locker room.
Tempers are flaring between the Patriots and New York, and Vrabel clearly doesn’t want any player to make an impulsive mistake. pic.twitter.com/kgwqljVKSA
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) December 28, 2025
not shy away from questions from the media. He candidly explained that his frustration stemmed from a cheap shot by Jets rookie Armand Membou during a running play. “What happened was No. 70 hit me from behind. That’s dirty and disrespectful,” Barmore said. “If you want to act tough, face me head-on. Don’t do cowardly stuff like that.”
According to those inside the Patriots organization, Vrabel was not angry with his player, but focused on controlling the situation and preventing personal emotions from spilling over into the team environment. The head coach understands Barmore’s role as a defensive leader and viewed the moment as one that required calm and restraint. “We protect each other, but it has to be done the right way,” a team source said of Vrabel’s message.
On the field, the Patriots remained locked in. The 42–10 victory improved their record to 13–3, keeping them firmly in control of the AFC race. For New England, Barmore’s incident was merely a brief discord in an otherwise dominant performance. Still, it reinforced Vrabel’s familiar message: if the Patriots want to make a deep playoff run, strength alone won’t be enough — they’ll also need composure when emotions run hottest.
