3 potential head coach replacements for Mike Vrabel

The Tennessee Titans finished the 2023 season with a 6-11 record and that meant that the front office decided it was time for a change. Mike Vrabel was shown the door and the Titans will be searching for a new head coach this offseason.

During his time in Tennessee, Vrabel finished with a 54-45 record and got the Titans to the playoffs in three of his six years on the job. In the 2019 season, the Titans made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game only to lose to Kansas City. Two years later, they were the number one seed in the AFC playoffs.

Vrabel's Titans tenure was plagued with poor quarterback play but his teams were still competitive. The former Titans coach will now become a top head coaching target for teams in the market for a new head coach.

Let's take a look at three head coaching options for the Titans now that the Mike Vrabel era is over.

All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference

Ben Johnson (Lions OC)

With the Titans having Vrabel, a defensive-minded guy, over the past six years, history tells us that they'll probably target an offensive-minded guy next. The Titans have Will Levis entering the second year of his career in 2024 and they'll want someone to come in who can mold him into a great quarterback. Ben Johnson could be the perfect guy for that.

Johnson rose to fame last season when he led the Lions offense to finish the season top 10 in overall points. He was a popular head coaching prospect a year ago but opted to stay in Detroit and it's paid off for the Lions, as they won their division and are the three-seed in the NFC playoffs.

Johnson has made the Lions offense lethal during his stint as their offensive coordinator, so who's to say he couldn't do the same thing in Nashville? He'll be a popular target for other teams searching for a new head coach as well but the Titans could be an appealing destination.

Bobby Slowik (Texans OC)

The Houston Texans winning the AFC South was not on many people's bingo cards this year but here we are. Bobby Slowik was a huge reason for why the Texans ultimately claimed the division because just look at what he did with C.J. Stroud during his rookie campaign.

Slowik's Texans finished the season ranked 12th in points per game and that's amazing considering he was dealing with a very young roster. In Tennessee, he'd have not as polished Levis but he'd have plenty of weapons to work with, including Tyjae Spears and Treylon Burks.

Furthermore, this move could be used against the Texans, as Slowik would get to face his old team twice a year and would know them quite well. This is a kill two birds with one stone type of hire for the Titans.

Raheem Morris (Rams DC)

While it'd be a bit surprising to see the Titans hire another defensive-minded guy after parting ways with Vrabel, Raheem Morris wouldn't be a bad pick by any means. He has experience as an NFL head coach, having served as the Buccaneers head coach from 2009 to 2011 and serving in the interim role when Dan Quinn was fired by Atlanta in 2020.

People might look at Morris' tenure in Tampa Bay and not be interested in him as a head coach but it's been a decade since then. He's proven himself to be a solid defensive coordinator since joinig the Rams in 2021 and helped them win a Super Bowl during that 2021 season.

Again, it's doubtful that the Titans go with a defensive coach for their now vacant head coaching position but if they do, Raheem Morris should be on their radar.