Patriots HC Mike Vrabel Set for Emotional Tennessee Return in Titans Showdown

Mike Vrabel had a 54–45 record as the Titans head coach before being fired ahead of the 2024 season.

Patriots HC Mike Vrabel Set for Emotional Tennessee Return in Titans Showdown

Mike Vrabel (Image via IMAGO)

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The New England Patriots’ Mike Vrabel experiment is already bearing fruit. With 4 wins from six, the Patriots sit pretty at the top of the AFC East. Standing between the Patriots and a fifth win are the Tennessee Titans–the same Titans who once employed their current head coach.

Before rejuvenating a dying Patriots organization still haunted by the ghosts of the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era, Vrabel made his name as a strong-willed head coach of the Titans. Much like his mentor, Belichick, the 50-year-old handled the situation in Tennessee with an iron fist.

His approach worked. Vrabel led the Titans to three consecutive playoff berths from 2019 to ’21, and AFC South titles in ’20 and ’21. The Titans even played in the AFC Championship game in ’19 (first appearance in this stage since 2002).

However, the Titans trended downward after the ’21 season. Finishing 7-10 and 6-11 in back-to-back seasons was enough for the brass to fire Vrable after the ’23 season. He left the Titans with a 54–45 record.

On Sunday, Vrabel is set to return to Nissan Stadium for the first time since leaving Music City. In all senses, this matchup should be a massive revenge game, but Vrabel prefers to look at the bigger picture.

I think it would file under the category of, ‘Is it interesting or important? I would probably say this would be very interesting. But in the end, not very important to our preparation or what we need to continue to try to do to improve as a team.

Mike Vrabel said (H/T: Sports Illustrated)

Vrabel may never say it out loud, but he definitely has a chip on his shoulder. He brought the glory days back to a franchise that had been a dumpster fire for a long period of time. And what he did get in return? Zero support from the owners when things started to go downhill.

Vrabel helped an above-average Ryan Tannehill play MVP-caliber football. However, the biggest betrayal came in the form of AJ Brown‘s trade to the Philadelphia Eagles. The owners viewed Treylon Burks as Brown’s worthy successor, but the ex-Arkansas man battled injuries the entire time he was with the Titans. He was released after racking up just 699 yards and 1 touchdown in three years.

Mike Vrabel reached out to Brian Callahan after he was fired by the Titans

The NFL is a results business, and the coaches’ jobs depend on how many wins they can deliver. Failing to meet the expectations will eventually lead to expulsion, even if they are a six-time Super Bowl champion. Brian Callahan did not have such a pedigree.

Patriots HC Mike Vrabel Set for Emotional Tennessee Return in Titans Showdown
Mike Vrabel (Image via IMAGO)

Callahan had been a quarterback’s coach and an offensive coordinator (for the Cincinnati Bengals), but the Titans gig was his first-ever head coaching job. Rookie or not, the front office was going to judge him based on the results. Needless to say, a 4-19 record won’t bring a smile to anyone’s face.

The Titans decided to part ways with Callahan after their latest loss at the hands of the Las Vegas Raiders. President of Football Operations Chad Brinker revealed that the organization had to move in a different direction because they were not seeing any growth.

We were looking for growth in this football team, and that is what this is about right now. We are not seeing enough growth from this football team. We are 1 and 5, and we have to be better. We are all frustrated. We understand that the fans are frustrated with everything that is going on.

Chad Brinker said (H/T: Titans official transcript)

Speaking with the media earlier this week, Vrabel revealed that he reached out to Callahan after hearing the news of his firing. When asked to elaborate on the reason behind his action, Vrable added that it meant a lot to him when other coaches did the same for him when he was fired.

“Nobody texts you when you lose,” Vrabel said.

The Titans replaced Callahan with Mike McCoy, who joined the team as an offensive assistant in March. McCoy has head coaching experience. He managed the San Diego Chargers from 2013 to 2016 and posted a record of 27-37.

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