The Tennessee Titans' decision to fire head coach Mike Vrabel at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign was divisive. He had been the most successful coach in modern franchise history. Vrabel led the team to multiple playoff appearances, a No. 1 seed, and an AFC Championship Game en route to winning Coach of the Year honors.
The Titans hired Brian Callahan as his successor. Callahan has already been fired, roughly 1.5 seasons into his tenure after compiling a 4-19 record. The Titans have hit rock-bottom since dismissing Vrabel.
Meanwhile Vrabel is absolutely thriving as the New England Patriots' head coach. The Patriots defeated the Jets 27-14 on Thursday Night Football to improve their record to an NFL-best 9-2. Vrabel continues to haunt the Titans, who are competing for the No. 1 overall pick for a second consecutive campaign.
Patriots HC Mike Vrabel continues to make Titans' fans worst nightmares come true
The Patriots have rounded off eight straight victories. On Thursday, Vrabel became the sixth head coach since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger to win eight-or-more straight contests in their first campaign in charge of an organization. Vrabel continues to expose Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk's decision to fire him as a misguided one.
Part of the Patriots' ongoing win-streak included a drubbing over the Titans in which traveling away fans broke out in "Vrabel" chants at Nissan Stadium. The Patriots' nine victories this season is more than they won under Bill Belichick (2023) and Jerod Mayo (2024) across the previous two combined seasons. Vrabel immediately got them back on track.
The Titans will conduct another coaching search once their 2025 campaign reaches its merciful conclusion. General manager Mike Borgonzi and president Chad Brinker will lead the process. Borgonzi wasn't here when Vrabel was fired. Hopefully he can find a coach to match Vrabel's quality.