Rumors on Monday were that former New England Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel would be interested in coaching the Patriots should Bill Belichick get let go, which added another wrinkle to an already interesting situation inside of Gillette Stadium.
At the time, it sounded like the only way the Titans would ever consider parting ways with Vrabel would be if another team came to them and offered up compensation for his services.
On Tuesday, things changed after Adam Schefter reported that Tennessee has instead fired him, which certainly changes things here.
Vrabel, who returned to New England to be honored during the Titans bye week in 2023, is well-liked here in New England and someone that the Krafts certainly have a lot of respect for. Clearly, having been a proven success elsewhere, his availability potentially creates another difficult decision the club is going to have to make in addition to what they’re planning to do with Belichick.
Jerod Mayo has been rumored to be the future replacement for the Patriots, especially after ownership took the extra step last offseason to prevent him from interviewing for that opportunity elsewhere. With that in mind, hiring Vrabel would most likely sever that relationship, creating a difficult situation that the Krafts would have to be prepared to deal with.
One thing that was interesting was how Titans owner Amy Adams Stunk talked about Vrabel’s departure, emphasizing in her statement the need to have people who “empower an aligned and collaborative team across all football functions,” which was a notable phrase in the statement released by the owner.
“Earlier today, I spoke with Mike Vrabel and told him about my decision to make a change at head coach,” read Adams Stunk’s statement. “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. Anyone who has ever met him knows how passionate and genuine he is, and he’s been a strong supporter of the Nashville community. We wish Mike, Jen, and the Vrabel family nothing but the best in the future.”
“As the NFL continues to innovate and evolve, I believe the teams best positioned for sustained success will be those who empower an aligned and collaborative team across all football functions. Last year, we began a shift in our approach to football leadership and made several changes to our personnel to advance that plan. As I continued to assess the state of our team, I arrived at the conclusion that the team would also benefit from the fresh approach and perspective of a new coaching staff.”
“I believe the Tennessee Titans can and will be a premier National Football League franchise. It’s what our fans deserve, and there will be hard decisions along the way. My decision today is not only a reflection of my disappointment in our past two seasons, but also my recognition that further changes are necessary to fully achieve our vision.”
“I will never shy away from acknowledging that I have unapologetically high expectations for the football team and every aspect of the Titans organization. Our vision is not simply to produce more wins than losses, it is to regularly compete for championships. While this season was disappointing, I see early signs of progress taking shape. Last year we added a promising young quarterback and several other talented players to our roster. With a coaching search, enviable cap space, and top-10 draft position, this offseason is as important as any in our history. I’m excited for the weeks and months ahead. We will meet the moment.”
As we know here, having a more collaborative process is something Robert Kraft has emphasized and it’s likely even more of a priority given what they’ve already experienced.
Whether or not Vrabel’s personality is too similar to Belichick’s is likely something they’ll try and figure out should he end up to be a consideration. That will likely be something discussed, especially taking into account the fact he was seemingly let go for those reasons. At the same time, it’s certainly easier to lay down new ground rules with someone like Vrabel than try and change existing ones, which is what it sounds like may have transpired in Tennessee prior to them letting him go.
For now, in the event things get to that point and they close the door on Belichick, the next question would be how they feel about things if it ultimately come down to between Vrabel and Mayo, if that’s indeed how things play out.
That would definitely be an uncomfortable decision, which could potentially add yet another difficult one they’ll have to make in the coming days.
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
