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"Earlier today, I spoke with Mike Vrabel and
told him about my decision to make a change at head coach,"
Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement.
"I appreciate Mike's contributions to the Tennessee Titans both
on and off the field."
Vrabel, 48, leaves Nashville with a 54-45 record over six
seasons. The Titans reached the postseason for three straight
seasons from 2019-21, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the
AFC Championship Game after the 2019 campaign.
Vrabel was the Coach of the Year during the 2021 season after
guiding Tennessee to a 12-5 record and its second straight
division title.
"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," Adams Strunk said in her statement. "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."
The Titans fired general manager Jon Robinson in December 2022,
replacing him with Ran Carthon last January.
The firing of Vrabel admittedly caught Titans star running back
Derrick Henry by surprise.
"Wow. Wow. I'm shocked," Henry told The Athletic. "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."
After a 14-year career as an NFL linebacker that included three
Super Bowl wins with the New England Patriots, Vrabel was an
assistant coach at his alma mater Ohio State (2011-13) and with
the Houston Texans (2014-17). He was the Texans' defensive
coordinator in his final season there before taking over the
Titans in 2018.
In his final appearance, Vrabel guided the Titans to a 28-20
home win on Sunday against Jacksonville that knocked the rival
Jaguars out of the playoffs.
--Field Level Media
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