The Tennessee Titans decided to move on from long-time head coach Mike Vrabel, who just finished his sixth season with the team. Just two years removed from a 12-5 season, the Titans are looking for a new head coach.
The Titans defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars to finish this year with a 6-11 record, their second straight losing season. Vrabel will likely be someone several teams will want to interview for their head coaching openings.
Why Did the Titans Fire Mike Vrabel?
In 2022, Tennessee started out 7-3 and appeared on their way to the playoffs for the fourth straight year under Vrabel.
The Titans would lose seven straight games to end the season and finish 7-10. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill missed five games with an ankle injury during the season, including the last three.
The Titans started 2-2 this season but lost five of the next six games to fall out of serious playoff contention. Tannehill injured his ankle again during the year, and the Titans turned to rookie Will Levis to take over.
Levis threw four touchdown passes in his first start but only threw four more in his next seven starts. The offense was near the bottom of the NFL rankings in points scored and total yards.
The change is coming at a time when Tennessee is at a crossroads with their roster, with Levis taking over as starting quarterback. Two major pieces of the team’s offense under Vrabel are free agents: Tannehill and Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry.
Tennessee lost 18 of its last 24 games under Vrabel.
Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk released the following statement on Tuesday:
“Earlier today, I spoke with Mike Vrabel and told him about my decision to make a change at head coach. As I told Coach Vrabel, this decision was as difficult as any I’ve made as Controlling Owner. I appreciate Mike’s contributions to the Tennessee Titans both on and off the field.”
You can read the entire statement here.
Vrabel’s Record With the Titans
Tennessee hired Vrabel to replace head coach Mike Mularkey, who was fired after a 9-7 season in 2017.
After a 5-6 start to Vrabel’s first season, the Titans won four games in a row with a chance to make the playoffs in the final week. Tennessee was eliminated from playoff contention after losing to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17.
MORE: Tennessee Titans Depth Chart
The next season, the Titans headed to the last week of the season with a chance to make the playoffs. Tennessee defeated the Texans to clinch a playoff berth and set up a Wild Card matchup against the Patriots.
Vrabel’s Titans went to New England and upset his old team in what ended up being Tom Brady’s final game as a Patriot. Tennessee upset the Baltimore Ravens, the AFC’s top seed, the next week and advanced to the AFC Championship Game. The Chiefs ended the Titans’ season the next week with a 35-24 victory.
In 2020, the Titans won the first five games and went on to clinch the AFC South in the final week with an 11-5 record. There would not be a playoff run for Tennessee this time, as the Titans lost at home to the Ravens in the Wild Card game.
The Titans went 12-5 and cruised to another AFC South title the next season. Tennessee won the last three games of the year to secure the top seed in the AFC. Vrabel and the Titans had another short playoff run, losing to the Cincinnati Bengals in their first playoff game.
Vrabel finished with a 54-45 record and three playoff appearances in his six seasons as Titans head coach. After winning his first two playoff games, Vrabel lost his final three, including two at home.
Vrabel finishes his time with the Titans with the third-most wins in franchise history, behind only Jeff Fisher and Bum Phillips.
Vrabel’s Coaching Timeline
After being an All-American at Ohio State, Vrabel played 14 seasons in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs. The linebacker won three Super Bowls in eight seasons with the Pats.
After retiring, Vrabel started his coaching career at Ohio State as an assistant coach for three seasons. He moved to the NFL in 2014 to be the Houston Texans linebackers coach under defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, whom he played for in New England and Kansas City. He was promoted to defensive coordinator after three seasons coaching the linebackers.
After one season as the Texans defensive coordinator, Vrabel was hired to be the Titans head coach.
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