The Tennessee Titans parted ways with coach Mike Vrabel on Tuesday, marking the end of a six-year run.
Vrabel had winning records in his first four seasons and started 7-3 in the fifth before the wheels came off in Nashville. The Titans lost their final seven games and missed the playoffs for the first time since Vrabel’s first season at Tennessee in 2018. That losing streak would carry over into this season before Tennessee (6-11) finally snapped it in Week 2.
Still, Vrabel lost six of her final 18 games, and controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk felt it was time to make a move two days after the season ended.
“As I continued to evaluate the state of our team, I came to the conclusion that the team would also benefit from the new focus and perspective of a new coaching staff,” Strunk said in a statement.
Vrabel becomes the sixth coach fired this season.
As Vrabel, 48, finishes his tenure with the Titans with a 54-45 record, ESPN experts weighed in on what the move means for Vrabel, the Titans and the NFL.
Why make this move now?
The Titans are coming off a second consecutive losing season, and there has been a lot of talk around the team in recent weeks that there would be postseason meetings about the direction of the franchise. It also seemed clear that Vrabel and first-year general manager Ran Carthon weren’t on the same page on everything. I’m not sure it’s as simple as “one of them had to go,” but Amy Adams Strunk’s statement made it clear that a big part of the reason for this move was to make sure the coach and GM are aligned on the future, and that he didn’t think that would be the case if Vrabel stayed. So, knowing that, make the decision now so you can continue your search. -Dan Graziano
How desirable is this job? What are the staff problems that a new coach would face?
This is, frankly, a middle-of-the-road job. It offers some advantages, but is clearly a rebuild with potential for growth issues in the first year. The team’s strength is defense, particularly the defensive line, but Tennessee could lose several key pieces in free agency, including end Denico Autry, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and cornerbacks Sean Murphy-Bunting and Kristian Fulton. The offense has been allergic to high passing yards, the offensive line needs a major overhaul and the receiver position hasn’t been good enough for years. Simply saying all that out loud requires an offensive-minded head coach to receive strong consideration. Rookie quarterback Will Levis showed promise, largely overcoming the free fall into the second round of the draft, but needs more support around him, primarily on the offensive line. At least the NFL is designed to rebuild quickly, and the Titans are projected to have more than $85 million in cap space, according to Roster Management System, this year. With some prudent moves in free agency, along with a productive draft, Tennessee may be on the rise. And the new head coach can help reshape the squad, which will be attractive to some, if reasonable patience is promised. — Jeremy Fowler
If it becomes vacant, should we expect Vrabel to be a candidate for the Patriots job?
Yes. Vrabel was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame earlier this season. He has an affinity for the organization and the organization has an affinity for him. And if you’re thinking, “Well, no one in Bill Belichick’s coaching tree has had success,” you’re right, but… Vrabel didn’t coach with Belichick. He played for him and began his career as an NFL coach in Houston under Bill O’Brien. So that criticism may not apply here. Vrabel is a very good coach that I think he will be a candidate in several places. And linebackers coach Jerod Mayo has been thought to be Belichick’s successor for some time and he could get the job if Belichick leaves. But if it’s not Mayo, then yes, I think Vrabel will be firmly in the mix there. — Graziano
Who could the Titans be looking for to replace Vrabel?
With Carthon involved in the hiring, he could lean on his experiences from San Francisco, where he served as a personnel executive from 2017 to 2022. Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik would make sense in that regard. He was with coach Kyle Shanahan for six seasons and is having success under Houston head coach Demeco Ryans, also a San Francisco disciple. Another intriguing name is Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith, a top lieutenant to coach Mike McDaniel, who was Shanahan’s longtime lieutenant. He could see someone in that mold. The Titans have made it clear that collaboration will be key, so they will target someone eager to align and work closely with Carthon. The defensive group is a little stronger, so Tennessee would be wise to evaluate some of the defensive coordinators such as Dan Quinn (Cowboys), Raheem Morris (Rams), Mike Macdonald (Ravens) and Steve Wilks (49ers), who also has the Shanahan Tie. — Hunter
What is the biggest recruiting need for whoever gets hired?
Offensive tackle. After drafting Peter Skoronski in the first round in 2023 and moving him to guard, the Titans have a big need at left tackle. They took 64 sacks this season, tying for fourth most. In the first round, Olumuyiwa Fashanu (Penn State) or Joe Alt (Notre Dame) will most likely be there at No. 7 overall for this rebuilding offense. -Matt Miller
