Image courtesy of @Sarahhhfarnan/IG
SANTA CLARA, CA – During his time as a player at BC, on a near-weekly basis, a question would come up for linebacker Vinny DePalma about coaching in the future.
Jeff Hafley used to say that DePalma was basically another coach on the field and he would often tell us that coaching very well could be in his future…if he didn’t end up on Wall Street.
Well, after a rocky first season in the NFL on Jerod Mayos’ staff, DePalma found himself in the chaos of Opening Night at the Super Bowl on Monday.
Funny how things work out.
“Nah, the entire season’s been incredible from the start,” DePalma said when I asked him to put this all into words. “I’m just grateful to be part of this staff under…starting with Vrabes, starting with Terrell (Williams), starting with Zak (Kuhr), it’s a great group of guys. The (linebacker) room has just been incredible. Guys who love football in the room makes it easy. I don’t think it’s a coincidence we’re here, because of the great people in the building.
“It’s been a lesson from Day 1 being with this new staff.”
When asked why he thinks this year was so much different than last year, DePalma obviously didn’t want to compare, but immediately went back to the people he’s surrounded by daily.
“I haven’t had time to reflect about it exactly, but I do think it’s just the people, you know what I’m saying?” he said. “From Day 1, it’s been about the people, the vision, the belief like Vrabes has said a million times. It’s about the identity and the belief. I think those two things are the most powerful things across any business, any organization, any team. I think those are the things that have driven it from April all the way until now in February.”
When Terrell Williams went down with his cancer diagnosis, guys like DePalma had to step up. It was a group effort, but DePalma was singled out a few times during the season for his work by Vrabel.
“It’s been great. I’ve spent a lot of time with the linebackers and like I said, it’s just an awesome, awesome group of guys,” DePalma said. “Between Spills (Robert Spillane), Gibby (Jack Gibbens), Elliss (Christian Elliss), Jahlani (Tavai), Harold (Landry III)…it just makes it so easy to work with them and coach them, practice and games. It’s guys that love football and are the ultimate professionals. They want to do everything they can to be the best versions of themselves for the team.
“For me as a young coach, seeing those guys be the ultimate pros, it’s been such a blessing.”
Williams had some very high praise for DePalma on Opening Night as well when I asked him about the former BC leader.
“Vinny’s unbelievable. I’m proud of him,” said Williams. “He was one of the guys I didn’t really know when we came in. When I went down, Zak stepped up, but also Vinny stepped up to coach the linebackers. Those guys respond well to him, so I’m really proud of him. A young coach that’s eager to learn and willing to ask questions, but also willing to make mistakes too.
“He’s got a bright future in this league.”
Of course, I had to ask Vinny if he and Landry III had talked BC at all during the year as well.
“Always,” Vinny said with a smile. “I got there in January of 2018 and he left in December of 2017, so mutual crossover. Even pregame last week (in Denver), we were both talking to Zach Allen. Me and Zach became close. He was a senior when I was a freshman and Harold obviously played with him. Small world coached by some of the same guys, but the BC connection has definitely been there.”
Asked for his thoughts on this past season with the Eagles, DePalma kept it simple.
“I’m always rooting for them and Coach (Bill ) O’Brien,” he said. “Coach O’Brien, Dan O’Brien, they’ve both been awesome and I always try to stop over there. Sometimes…I mean, I had one of those (down) years when I was there. It happens, that’s just how it rolls. Then, you try to rebound and I’m sure they will.”
As other assistant coaches walked by jokingly yelling ‘big time ball coach!’ while DePalma and I chatted, it wasn’t lost on either of us just how quickly everything has changed in just a few years since his departure from Chestnut Hill.
From Saturday’s at The Heights to Santa Clara, what a crazy (brief) ride it’s been so far.
“It has hit me a bit,” DePalma admitted. “I remember getting done with the Fenway Bowl and deciding I was going to start coaching, starting to look for a job. I didn’t know if that was going to be high school or college. Obviously, this worked out and to go from starting in February of 2024 to now we’re in February of 2026, this two year run…if you had told me that this is how it would all go down, I don’t know if I would have believed you. I couldn’t ask for anything more. The people, the profession I’m in, not a day goes by where it feels like work.
“It’s just been a blast and hopefully we keep it rolling. This has been a lot better than Wall Street. No doubt.”