The news hit like an electric shockwave: Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel, synonymous with the NFL franchise, had been unceremoniously shown the door by team owner Amy Adams Strunk. The shockwaves reverberated across the league, igniting a flurry of text messages expressing utter disbelief.
A league insider, who had spent years working closely with Vrabel, could only muster, “You’re s***ting me.” This sentiment was echoed by high-ranking league executives as they grappled with the unexpected development. “Unbelievable coach,” one exclaimed, “What a crazy business.” Another remarked on the astonishing speed at which Vrabel, a phenomenal coach in their eyes, would undoubtedly find a new job. Amid the tumult, an NFC general manager added a twist, asserting, “The Titans just got a lot worse, and a few of these coaching searches just got a lot easier.”
The decision to part ways with a coach universally respected across the league raised eyebrows. Vrabel, the defensive wizard, had steered the team to an AFC championship game and clinched two division titles in a six-year span. This achievement was all the more remarkable considering the absence of a high-caliber quarterback in a league typically defined by such players. Vrabel’s coaching prowess came to the forefront when he secured the NFL Coach of the Year title after navigating the Titans through a 2021 season marred by injuries, resulting in a roster featuring an unprecedented 91 players. Additionally, Vrabel had to contend with the ramifications of personnel mistakes made by former general manager Jon Robinson, which gradually eroded the team’s depth chart.
Letting go of a coach with such a track record invites the thunderheads of criticism, especially when the decision is accompanied by a conspicuous absence from the news conference explaining the move. Strunk opted for a one-on-one meeting with Vrabel, personally delivering the pink slip, and then delegated the responsibility of fielding the hard questions to her hand-picked general manager, Ran Carthon. This strategic move suggested two key things: Strunk anticipated significant pressure to clarify the reasons behind the decision, and it was an opportunity to shift the franchise’s spotlight to the general manager poised to lead it into the future.
Opinions on what transpired between Strunk and Vrabel may vary, but it’s evident that Strunk no longer believed in Vrabel’s ability to be a collaborative team player with Carthon. This conviction was articulated in Strunk’s statement following the firing, where she emphasized the importance of empowering an aligned and collaborative team across all football functions. The shift in the team’s approach to football leadership initiated the previous year, coupled with changes in personnel, aimed to advance that collaborative plan. Strunk concluded that the team would benefit from a fresh approach and perspective embodied by a new coaching staff.
The line from Strunk’s statement resonates powerfully: those who empower an aligned and collaborative team. The decision to retain Carthon while parting ways with Vrabel spoke volumes about Strunk’s assessment of Vrabel’s compatibility with her vision for a collaborative team.
Perhaps Strunk’s judgment was grounded in the realization that Vrabel’s coaching philosophy aligned more with the likes of Bill Belichick, Urban Meyer, and Bill O’Brien. These mentors had instilled in Vrabel a belief in a “coach outward” system, where the head coach holds the central decision-making authority. Vrabel seemed to have secured that position when Strunk ousted Robinson in late 2022. However, Strunk’s subsequent hiring of Carthon, with minimal input from Vrabel, set the stage for Tuesday’s events. Strunk aimed for a power structure split between herself, the head coach, and the general manager. When she deemed Vrabel incompatible with this vision, she pulled the plug.
In the process, Strunk unwittingly created an opportunity for another NFL franchise. Vrabel, unsuitable for Strunk’s vision, may well be the right fit elsewhere. He remains the coach who navigated an imperfect roster and quarterback conundrum, earning the respect of his team by securing a victory even when playoff prospects seemed bleak.
Even in a league that typically pairs offensive coaches with franchise quarterbacks, the endorsement from the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes in Netflix’s “Quarterback” documentary holds weight. Mahomes praised the Tennessee Titans defense and likened facing them to challenging the early 2000s Patriots, citing Vrabel’s coaching acumen.
This endorsement carries significance, especially for teams like the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots, holding the second and third picks, respectively, in the 2024 Draft. These franchises can now consider Vrabel, a proven and game-changing option that wasn’t on the table a few days ago.
The inexplicable firing of Vrabel will continue to be questioned deep into the offseason, if not for years to come, leaving a lingering uncertainty about the events that led to the departure of a coach who had left an indelible mark on the Tennessee Titans franchise.
