The New England Patriots are no strangers to playing in the Super Bowl, with more appearances in the big game than any other franchise in the history of the league. But how did the Patriots reach Super Bowl LX? Patriots decision to hire Mike Vrabel tops offseason additions leading to Super Bowl LX appearance1. There's no doubt that the biggest reason for the Patriots being in this position, representing the AFC in Super Bowl LX, is because of the decision to hire Vrabel. His deal with the Patriots is for four years, $104 million, and the impact he's made has been outstanding.