OT - Tennessee Titans fire Mike Vrabel
Link:
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39272784/sources-titans-fire-coach-mike-vrabel-6-seasons
Something of a surprising move. I believe Vrabel has been discussed around these parts as a potential replacement should OSU move on from Ryan Day.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:36 PM ^
Somebody cut the power lines in Columbus! (I think he is an attractive enough candidate to stay in the NFL anyway)
January 9th, 2024 at 1:53 PM ^
If I was the OSU AD, I would pull a hamstring running down to Ryan Day's office with a pink slip in my hand.
I am glad they don't seem inclined to do so and Vrabel will end up with the Steelers or Patriots. OSU coached by Vrabel would be scary.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:36 PM ^
Very funny timing. He's got a bit of a Harbaugh shine to their fanbase. If it were one year later, he might be their coach.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:57 PM ^
yeah, but big difference in track records as head coach.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:41 PM ^
He's gotta be a prime candidate for New England --- presuming Belichick leaves.
I'm still holding to my prediction that Belichick ultimately winds up in Dallas (Jerry Jones fires McCarthy after the Cowboys inevitably flame out in the playofs).
January 9th, 2024 at 1:47 PM ^
That would be…something
January 9th, 2024 at 1:57 PM ^
I don't follow the Cowboys so I don't know what kind of power structure McCarthy has....
But, these days any big-time, call-your-own-shots kinda coach would demand full control and I don't imagine Jerry Jones being willing to give that.
January 9th, 2024 at 2:06 PM ^
You may be right ---- Jerry is also 81* years old. Even he has to feel the clock is ticking, in terms of the Cowboys winning another Super Bowl in his life-time.
We'll see.
-----
* Jerry of course is one of those dudes who looks older than he is. He looked like he was 70 when he was 50, back when he bought the team in the early 1990s. So I suppose he's "only" 81 years old - dude looks like he's 95 right now.
January 9th, 2024 at 2:14 PM ^
It would be worth the price of admission just to see Belichick's face the first time Jerry calls down and demands he run the 'slant n go' on the next play.
January 9th, 2024 at 7:53 PM ^
Good heavens! If I was drinking coffee at my desk there would be coffee all over my desk.
January 9th, 2024 at 2:01 PM ^
Jerry want to be able to fire another hall of fame coach?
January 9th, 2024 at 2:01 PM ^
Those two would go together like lamb and tuna fish.
January 9th, 2024 at 2:34 PM ^
I dont think he goes to Dallas because Jerry and Sons will retain total control over personnel (some would say coaching, as well). Belichick likes to buy the groceries and cook the dinner.
January 9th, 2024 at 3:35 PM ^
He's bought some crappy groceries over the last 5 years.
January 9th, 2024 at 3:41 PM ^
He’s a great coach and a very average personnel guy…relies too much on coaches he knows or trusts for perspective it’s the reason Aaron Hernandez was brought in and why bleak Harry was drafted instead of AJ brown or Deebo Samuel. I think he ends up in LA with the chargers
January 9th, 2024 at 1:41 PM ^
Next Patriots HC?
January 9th, 2024 at 1:42 PM ^
Vrabel is the guy I'd want to see the least at OSU. But the timing is perfect lol because there isn't an opening. I met him when he was on Urban's staff and he's def pretty chill, but he does act like he's a bit better than everyone around him. All that aside, he has always had a disdain for college coaching and recruiting and he would likely take an NFL job over OSU.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:58 PM ^
i don't see why everyone is so afraid of this guy. He underachieved at Tennessee and got canned. He seems ok, not obviously an upgrade for them.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:52 PM ^
The terrifying scenario to me is Vrabel at Ohio State, retaining Hartline. Vrabel could just hold up a picture of Derrick Henry and recruit any RB or OL he so wishes. Hartline will still continue recruiting any WR he wants. Nobody would ever accuse Vrabel of being Charmin soft or being born on third base. He could be everything OSU needs. So please, any NFL owner, hire this man now.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:56 PM ^
Given that I don't think OSU is likely to fire Day until after at least next year, I think we don't have to worry about that. Vrabel isn't going to remain voluntarily unemployed to wait for a college job to come open.
January 9th, 2024 at 1:58 PM ^
Color me unterrified. He is a middling NFL coach. UM has a top-tier NFL coach.
January 9th, 2024 at 3:43 PM ^
Vrabel could just hold up a picture of Derrick Henry and recruit any RB or OL he so wishes
I seem to remember people saying the same about Harbaugh when he first got to Michigan, and how he was going to have every 5 star QB begging for his coaching.
I am not impressed Vrabel. He is a meh coach who rode the coattails of a truly generational RB talent and great offensive line that he inherited from the previous regime. With that talent, the OL quickly fell apart, and Henry started to deteriorate as age/insane carry volume took its toll.
And he won all of 2 playoff games (both in 2019) against a mediocre Patriots, and a very good (but one dimensional) Ravens team. He isn't some sleeping giant world-beater.
January 9th, 2024 at 4:09 PM ^
Brian "violent mob" Hartline
January 9th, 2024 at 2:02 PM ^
Or they could pull a Cubs and fire Ryan David Ross Day and hire Mike Craig Counsell Vrabel.
January 9th, 2024 at 2:06 PM ^
Uhhh Vrabel wasn't Tennessee's issue
January 9th, 2024 at 2:07 PM ^
I think Vrabel to the Patriots makes sense. He'd be their Dan Campbell.
January 9th, 2024 at 2:19 PM ^
As a die-hard Titans I would love Vrabel as the OSU coach.
The guy is a totally smug meathead confrontational control freak who clearly thinks he's the smartest person in the room, and the team got worse and worse as he got more and more power. Obviously, the FO made questionable moves as well (AJ Brown), but he had a major part of it - especially (surprisingly) on the offensive woes.
Much of his tenure has been propped up by a HOF level ~4.5 year run (mid 2018 - 2022) of Henry just getting 3876442 carries per year and somehow staying mostly intact.
Any team that hires him is in for a treat. And if a team hires him as a DC, well he's terrible at that as well if you judge him during his stint with the Texans.
January 9th, 2024 at 2:20 PM ^
Hilarious that OSU will miss out on hiring him
January 9th, 2024 at 2:29 PM ^
OSU fans gonna be antsy as hell and Day might not enjoy this.
Like when a dudes ex hot girlfriend gets divorced.
January 9th, 2024 at 2:39 PM ^
Titans Ohio State coach swap?
January 9th, 2024 at 4:19 PM ^
For some reason I thought Vrabel has said he has no interest in the college game. I guess he's not a big fan of recruiting (allegedly)...
January 9th, 2024 at 4:25 PM ^
Taylor Lewan was on Rich Eisen's show earlier today, when the news came out. Taylor was stunned and later said that "Vrabes" would have no interest in coaching in college. Taylor thought the best fit for Mike was either the Pats or the Raiders. YMMV.