Rookie quarterback Will Levis was among the Tennessee Titans players who spoke with reporters on Monday about the uncertain future of head coach Mike Vrabel.
“He’s gonna communicate with us as soon as he knows,” Levis explained, per Nick Suss of the Nashville Tennessean. “But I know he wants to be here…I love everyone in this building. I hope it stays the same and I hope that we’re all able to grow and all able to stick together. Obviously, I don’t have a say in any of those types of things. But hopefully, it stays together and we’re able to keep this thing rolling.”
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It was suggested throughout December that Titans general manager Ran Carthon, who accepted the job last offseason, could push for a mutual parting with Vrabel this winter. As of early Monday evening, more questions than answers existed regarding the validity of such takes:
The coaching staff and players in Tennessee haven’t been given an update about the status of head coach Mike Vrabel. I was told they are all waiting to hear.
Vrabel went 54-45 across the past six regular seasons with the Titans, but his teams won only two of five playoff games. The 48-year-old, who earned three Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots from 2001-08, has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Bill Belichick, but it was unknown if team owner Robert Kraft and president Jonathan Kraft will move on from the longtime head coach this offseason.
“I believe in coach Vrabel’s message to us and sometimes things just don’t happen the way they’re supposed to happen,” Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons said. “Hopefully going forward he is our coach. This is a business so I don’t know what may happen. I’m not hearing anything.”
NFL insider Michael Lombardi reported on Jan. 1 that Vrabel has two years remaining on his contract. While Belichick is also under contract through the 2024 season, the Titans are not among the handful of clubs linked with the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach. Carthon nevertheless could look to land some compensation from any team for Vrabel’s services.
“The way he’s been about his business from the time I’ve met him speaks volumes about why people have the opinion about him that they did, which made me want to come here as well just hearing about the type of coach that he was and the type of person that he was,” Titans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair added about Vrabel. “I have the most respect for him. I obviously don’t make those decisions but I would hope that he is the head coach.”
The Krafts may take several weeks before they announce a final decision about Belichick, and such a timeline could impact Vrabel’s plans beyond January. Vrabel remains popular among Tennessee players, but he may view fixing a Patriots team that missed the playoffs for the third time in four years as a natural next step of his coaching career.
