Insider discusses Titans' Mike Vrabel possibly replacing Patriots' Bill Belichick

Boston Sports Journal founder and editorial director Greg A. Bedard suggested in a piece published Thursday night that Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel could be interested in replacing New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick assuming Patriots owner Robert Kraft either trades or fires Belichick this winter. 

"If you were drawing a line from the Krafts' past hiring to their next one, Vrabel would be the ideal candidate," Bedard explained. "And yet another league source told me this week of Vrabel that, "(I) don’t think he’s happy" in Tennessee.

Bedard's second point is interesting, as it was reported earlier this month that the "Titans intend to retain Vrabel." According to Tyler Conway of Bleacher Report, Vrabel is under contract through at least the 2024 season. Meanwhile, the 5-8 Titans next host the 7-6 Houston Texans this Sunday. 

Vrabel earned three Super Bowl rings playing for the Patriots from 2001 through the 2008 season, and his history with the organization is a major reason he's routinely mentioned as a possible Belichick successor. Some have thought going back to last offseason that Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo is Kraft's choice to replace Belichick, but Bedard reported that "one source called Mayo a 'longshot'" to win the full-time job this offseason. 

Instead, Bedard thinks Vrabel could request a trade to the Patriots and then elevate Mayo to the role of defensive coordinator/assistant head coach. Bedard also noted that Vrabel could keep Bill O'Brien as offensive coordinator "with staff autonomy" due to the fact that Vrabel previously worked under O'Brien when the latter served as head coach of the Texans. 

In an article published on Dec. 5, Titans insider Turron Davenport of ESPN hinted that Vrabel's positive working relationship with Tennessee general manager Ran Carthon could keep the 48-year-old happy with the organization through the start of the 2024 season. Perhaps Bedard is right and Vrabel wants a change of scenery, or maybe the former New England player thinks he's the right person to repair a once-proud franchise that hasn't fully recovered from Tom Brady's departure that occurred after the 2019 campaign.