The Tennessee Titans fired head coach Mike Vrabel this offseason in a move that surprised some, as he was thought to be held in high regard in the NFL. However, Vrabel did not land a head coaching job this offseason, and what he will do in 2024 remains unknown.
Why is Vrabel currently stuck on the coaching carousel? Dianna Russini of The Athletic believes there wasn’t really a candidate for him. But also, apparently, an NFL general manager thought the former New England Patriots linebacker’s physical build had something to do with it.
Russini said a general manager told him Vrabel was a tall human being, which could be “very intimidating” to people in an organization. Russini said she laughed at the comment, but the general manager said it could be a real thing.
“I’ve visited rooms and someone’s physical presence can make a difference,” the general manager said.
Former Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan, who has defended Vrabel since his firing, appeared on “Up & Adams” and said he spoke with Russini on Super Bowl opening night. According to Lewan, Russini said that this was not a “report” but simply an assumption that she doesn’t really buy into.
“And if there’s a lawsuit that’s in the upper echelons of a franchise making business decisions that says, ‘This guy’s a little too intimidating for us to add as a coach- head of the National Football League’, fire immediately, don’t give him severance, he needs to pack his bags and he needs to go home,” Lewan said. “It’s the craziest, craziest take, if anyone actually believes that someone is too intimidating to be a head coach.”
Vrabel went 54-45 in his six seasons as Tennessee’s leader, but recorded his first two losing seasons in 2022 and 2023. He won NFL Coach of the Year in 2021 after Tennessee acquired the AFC’s No. 1 seed despite numerous injuries. including a foot problem that cost star running back Derrick Henry half the year.
