With Bill Belichick potentially on the outs with the New England Patriots, could Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel ultimately replace him?
ESPN’s Turron Davenport does not think it will occur, reporting that multiple Titans team sources say that the team intends to retain Vrabel as head coach.
Davenport went on to say that Tennessee has been working with Vrabel to get him players that fit his system, an indication that the Titans are absolutely factoring Vrabel into their future.
Vrabel has been head coach of Tennessee since 2018, going 52-42 with three playoff appearances and a pair of AFC South division titles. However, the Titans have gone just 4-8 this far in 2023 and went only 7-10 last season.
Vrabel played 14 seasons in the NFL, with eight of them coming with the Patriots between 2001 and 2008. During that time, Vrabel helped New England win three Super Bowl titles. His best season came in 2007, when he racked up 77 tackles, 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles en route to a Pro Bowl appearance and a First-Team All-Pro selection.
The 48-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Ohio State, was originally selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He spent four years with the Steelers before ultimately joining the Pats, where he played under Belichick.
Following his tenure with the Patriots, Vrabel proceeded to spend a couple of seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs before ultimately retiring.
Belichick has been at the helm in New England since 2000 and has led the Pats to six Super Bowl championships and nine Super Bowl appearances. However, he has fallen on hard times since Tom Brady departed via free agency in March 2020. The Patriots are just 2-10 this season, marking their worst mark through 12 games since 1993.
While there is no guarantee that Belichick will be out of New England after this year, it’s looking more and more likely that he will be coaching elsewhere in 2024.
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