Mike Vrabel may have influenced Titans’ coaching change?

The timing of the Tennessee Titans’ decision to fire head coach Brian Callahan came as something of a surprise, but the team’s upcoming opponent may have had something to do with it.

The Titans fired Callahan on Monday, one day after their loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. The team’s upcoming opponent, the New England Patriots, may have played into the decision as well. The Patriots are coached by Mike Vrabel, the same man the Titans let go before hiring Callahan.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, there are some people around the league that subconsciously believe the Titans let Callahan go before the Patriots game, as they did not want Vrabel to be the one to deliver the final blow.

“Some people I’ve talked to believe Vrabel’s presence was a factor, at least subconsciously,” Fowler wrote in his weekly column. “One industry source told me half-jokingly, ‘They didn’t want Vrabel to be the one to dunk on [Callahan],’ thus getting ahead of it.”

The Titans surprisingly let go of Vrabel after the 2023 season despite a 54-45 record in six seasons. It was reported at the time of his firing that the team had some pretty curious reasons for making the move.

Whatever the reasons were, it has not worked. The Titans have a roster largely devoid of talent and have won just four games since Vrabel’s dismissal. If their former coach comes in and beats them up on Sunday, it will be embarrassing for them no matter who is patrolling the Titans’ sideline.