Recently fired Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel is certain to be a candidate of interest for teams around the National Football League looking to hire their next head coach.
While things didn't work out in Tennessee, the 48-year-old Vrabel is one of the most proven head coaches available for hire this offseason. He's already been linked to the Dallas Cowboys, who may choose to move on from Mike McCarthy after an embarrassing playoff loss.
Here's everything fans need to know about head coach candidate Mike Vrabel.
Who Is Mike Vrabel?
Vrabel's coaching career got started following a 14-year NFL career in which he was a three-time Super Bowl champion, Pro Bowler, and First Team All-Pro outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs. In 8 of his 14 professional seasons, Vrabel played for Bill Belichick in New England.
Following his playing career, Vrabel returned to his alma mater and worked as the linebacker and defensive line coach at Ohio State University. After two seasons in Columbus, Vrabel returned to the NFL world as the linebackers coach for the Houston Texans.
In January of 2017, the Texans named Vrabel as their next defensive coordinator. Just one season later, Vrabel was hired by the Titans and became the 19th head coach in franchise history.
The Titans made a playoff run and went to the AFC Championship Game in Vrabel's second season with the organization. It was the first of three consecutive playoff births for Tennessee, but the only one that they won a playoff game in.
After leading the Titans to an AFC best 12-5 regular season record during the 2021 season, Vrabel was named the AP NFL Coach of the Year. In six season with the Titans, Vrabel was 54-45 as a head coach.
Vrabel's Biggest Strength
It's impossible to discuss Mike Vrabel's coaching style without bringing up "culture." It's something every Mike Vrabel team has in spades.
Because of his background as a former player, Vrabel is widely regarded as a player's coach. He prioritizes the personal relationships he has with guys in the locker room. It allows him to keep his group united through adversity and demand more of every individual.
Players love to play for Vrabel. Even with the Titans stumbling through a 6-11 season in 2023, veteran players said the season was always fun and the Titans felt like a true family. It's easy to be a player's coach that has fun when you're winning, it's rare to find a head coach who brings those things to the table during a losing season.
That has to be Vrabel's biggest strength as a head coach. He's a former player that can relate to the guys he deals with an a unique way. He will never lose the locker room. He gets a lot of buy in from the players on his roster and therefore gets the most of the talent he is given.
Vrabel's Biggest Weakness
On the flip side, Vrabel's biggest weakness is his stubbornness. He likes things done his way. He likes a coaching staff and players that he has a history with. He's certainly not the most innovative coach around.
The Titans' dated style of offensive play quickly became a liability when the roster got weaker later in his tenure. Vrabel loves to run the football, play physical defense, create some turnovers, and win scrappy games.
When Derrick Henry is running for 2,000 yards and looking like a generational talent, that can work. When your offensive line is depleted and Henry is beginning to age, it might be time to switch things up.
Vrabel can win and maximize the talent given to him. If he's working with a quality roster, I'd put money on Vrabel to lead them far in the postseason. His teams don't put up playoff stinkers. But his staff, and offensive coordinator in particular, is always going to be an essential piece to the puzzle.
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