The week after the final games of regular season football is not exactly a cheery time to be a head coach. Starting with what is unofficially called “Black Monday,” firings of various coaches commence, some less surprising than others. One such team, the Tennessee Titans, announced this past Tuesday that Mike Vrabel will no longer be their head coach after six seasons in Nashville. Vrabel compiled a record of 56-48 (54-45 in regular season play, 2-3 in the postseason), though his last two ended under .500.
There is no question that he can coach, but now the question remains as to where he will be a good fit for him. Here are four teams that could benefit from Vrabel’s services.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks shocked more than a handful of NFL fans when they announced that Pete Carroll will not remain as head coach and shortly reassigned him to an advisory position. But with a playoff-caliber roster just short of a few pieces, recruiting Vrabel to man the helm could give Seattle that extra push into the playoff picture in the near future.
His background as a Super-Bowl winning linebacker should help straighten out things on the Seahawks’ defense. Not to mention, Carroll and Vrabel’s shared passion for winning could spell trouble for the rest of the NFC West. Hopefully, the front office will take his availability seriously.
Atlanta Falcons
After three straight seasons going 7-10, the Atlanta Falcons parted ways with head coach Arthur Smith. This season, Smith was criticized for under-utilizing key offensive weapons like Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson. A humiliating defeat to New Orleans to end 2023 did not help Smith’s argument. Now the Falcons have a coaching vacancy and calling in Vrabel should be on their “to-do list.”
Atlanta boasts a roster full of young, hungry players with playoff aspirations. Giving the keys to Vrabel would improve the coach/player chemistry and give A-Town a head coach who is not afraid to take risks and get messy when the occasion calls for it.
Los Angeles Chargers
It was a rough season for Chargers fans. The injury bug deprived the Chargers of their best players, including quarterback Justin Herbert and wide receiver Mike Williams. Head coach Brandon Staley was losing his grip on the locker room during the more frustrating times of the season. Los Angeles fired Staley and general manager Tom Tolesco after a 63-21 loss against Las Vegas. But what would happen if they bring in and interview Mike Vrabel and he accepts the Chargers gig?
At the very least, Vrabel can help mend the fences between coach and player. With a roster loaded with talent, some revamped chemistry can go a long way in Los Angeles, plus garnering some more wins. The Chargers may not be able to keep all their stars for long, but Vrabel can start a new chapter on a positive note.
Washington Commanders
In a move many fans and experts anticipated, the Washington Commanders moved on from Ron Rivera as head coach after going 4-13 in 2023. Expect the new ownership to create more moves as a new era of Washington football gets ushered. But one good place to start is having Vrabel succeed Rivera as the new head coach. This Commanders roster may not be as stacked as the teams previously mentioned. But Vrabel can help change the culture for the better.
Many predict he would be a candidate to succeed Bill Belichick in New England. The Commanders have moved further with their rebuilding process, while the Patriots are only starting theirs. Things will not start very smoothly at the start. But if one brings in a coach that players want to play for, like Vrabel, the rebuilding process can get off on the right foot.
Main Image: © Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
