In an alternate scenario, the Tennessee Titans would have refrained from severing ties with Mike Vrabel after his sixth season as the head coach. Instead, the team’s controlling owner, Amy Adams Strunk, would have ventured down an uncommon path by exploring the possibility of trading Vrabel to a franchise in need of a head coach during the offseason. This unconventional move has only transpired eight times in NFL history, involving iconic figures such as Don Shula, Bill Parcells, Mike Holmgren, Bill Belichick, Jon Gruden, Herm Edwards, Bruce Arians, and Sean Payton.
During an interview with a reporter from the Titans’ official website, Strunk admitted to contemplating this alternative course of action instead of resorting to termination. She explained, “Yes, there was. But there’s a bit of misconception about a coach’s contract, say versus a player’s contract. A coach’s contract, you can’t trade them unless they are a willing partner to that trade. So, yes, we thought about it, but at the end of the day, with league rules the way they are, it would have maybe put us back three weeks, and you know, to get the right head coach, I was just not willing to go to the back of the line and take a chance of missing out on someone we really wanted.”
Despite Vrabel’s previous successes, which included steering the Titans to four consecutive winning seasons, the decision to part ways came on the heels of the team’s second consecutive losing season, finishing with a 6-11 record. Vrabel concluded his tenure with a respectable 54-45 record and a 2-3 mark in the postseason. The termination was a stark contrast to earlier accomplishments, such as three playoff appearances, two AFC South titles, and securing the No. 1 seed in the 2021 season.
The Titans, once a dominant force under Vrabel’s guidance, underwent a notable transformation, no longer resembling the formidable team from his early seasons. This was particularly evident when comparing the team’s current state to their AFC championship appearance in the 2019 season. The decision to part ways with Vrabel left the Titans’ star running back, Derrick Henry, who was also a free agent at the time, in disbelief. Henry expressed his astonishment, stating, “Wow. Wow. I’m shocked. Coach Vrabel is a leader of men. He is a great coach and teacher. I know he will get another opportunity right away. I look forward to it.”
Strunk, in her official statement addressing Vrabel’s termination, acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, describing it as “as difficult as any I’ve made as controlling owner.” The move was driven by a strategic desire to steer the Titans in a new coaching direction for the future. Strunk articulated, “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.”
