The Titans entered the 2023 NFL season expected to be mired in a rebuilding year. Thus, it's no surprise that they posted the worst record of Mike Vrabel's six-year tenure with the team.
What was a surprise was Tennessee's decision to part with Vrabel after the 6-11 campaign.
Yes, the Titans struggled in 2023, finishing last in the AFC South and struggling to compete with some of the conference's higher-end opponents.
That said, Vrabel led the team to a key Week 18 victory over the Jaguars. The Titans won 28-20 and knocked Jacksonville, which had a win-and-in scenario, out of the playoffs altogether. That led many to anticipate that Vrabel would be a shoo-in to return to the team in 2024.
Instead, the Titans are moving on from Vrabel. They are now set to let new general manager Ran Carthon, who was hired during the 2023 offseason, bring on a new hire to assume the head-coaching mantle.
That will leave Vrabel looking for work. Could he find it with the Patriots?
New England is in a similar boat to Tennessee. The Patriots are considering moving on from a proven head coach — Bill Belichick — to spark their organization with a new hire.
MORE: Latest news on Bill Belichick, Ron Rivera, Arthur Smith, others on Black Monday hot seat
So, could Vrabel join the Patriots if they move on from Belichick? Here's what to know about the rumors surrounding the Titans' head coach.
Will the Titans fire Mike Vrabel?
The Titans have officially fired Mike Vrabel with owner Amy Adams Strunk announcing the decision in a statement on Tuesday.
"Earlier today, I spoke with Mike Vrabel and told him about my decision to make a change at head coach," she said in a statement. "I appreciate Mike's contributions both on and off the field. We wish Mike, Jen, and the Vrabel family nothing but the best in the future.
MORE: Why did the Titans fire Mike Vrabel?
Before Tennessee's announcement, Vrabel's future was considered a true toss-up, as NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported.
"I think, right now, it's really safe to say that his status is up in the air," Rapoport said of Vrabel.
From @NFLTotalAccess Season End: On the status of #Titans coach Mike Vrabel and then the NFL interest in #Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh... pic.twitter.com/Owca70duba
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 8, 2024
While Rapoport clarified that it "seemed like the Titans wanted to keep Vrabel," ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the team's 6-18 record in Vrabel's last 24 games ultimately caused her to change her mind and dismiss him.
Titans’ Owner Amy Adams Strunk wanted fresh perspective in the coaching staff after a 6-18 stretch over the last two seasons, including 1-9 in division games. https://t.co/m9OKXE19VX pic.twitter.com/9l1W5BRloL
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 9, 2024
So, though there was "50/50" shot of keeping Vrabel — as one league source told CBS Sports' Josina Anderson — the Titans ultimately decided to move on from him.
League source to me just now on whether they feel #Titans head coach Mike Vrabel continues with the organization amid questions about whether everyone's on the same page & the direction of the future, they just said in their opinion, "I'd call it 50/50 right now." pic.twitter.com/xLyJNY2qbj
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 8, 2024
Now, Vrabel will move onto another team. The only question is whether that will be the Patriots or another squad.
MORE: The top rising NFL coaching candidates for 2024
Could Mike Vrabel join the Patriots?
Now that the Patriots have moved on from Belichick after a historic 24-year run, Vrabel would be a sensible target for New England.
Vrabel has enjoyed a solid coaching career to date, posting four winning seasons in his six years with the Titans. He won the AP's Coach of the Year award for 2021 after leading the Titans to the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs and has consistently gotten the most out of his roster, even when it's been depleted.
If Vrabel's performance alone isn't enough, the fact that he has an intimate understanding of the Patriots' system should help him out. He played eight NFL seasons with the Patriots and won three Super Bowls while developing into a key part of Belichick's defense.
That experience would give Vrabel knowledge of exactly what Belichick meant to the Patriots organization. That would allow him to ingratiate himself into the team's established culture and order of operations while giving himself a chance to coach up an already-strong Patriots defense.
All that's to say that Vrabel looks like a potential fit for the Patriots, particularly with Belichick's tenure now officially over. It appears that the interest between the two sides is mutual, as Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report reported Monday that Vrabel would have an interest in the job.
Sources to @BleacherReport: As the #Titans weigh HC Mike Vrabel’s future this week, he’s interested in the idea of returning to the #Patriots, should New England part ways with Bill Belichick. pic.twitter.com/xswyVb1yIE
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 8, 2024
So, with Belichick dismissed, Vrabel may be the prohibitive favorite to take over for his former head coach. But there is still a long road ahead, presumably, for New England's coaching search.
MORE: Where Mike Vrabel ranks among best potential Patriots replacements for Bill Belichick
Mike Vrabel coaching record
Vrabel has enjoyed a lot of success during his time with the Titans. He has a regular-season record of 54-45 as the team's head coach and has a 2-3 mark in the postseason.
The impressive part of Vrabel's success? He has achieved it largely with Ryan Tannehill at quarterback and with a rotating cast of characters on defense. He has done well in coaching players up on that side of the ball while he has typically hired high-end talents to assist him as coordinators. Both Matt LaFleur and Arthur Smith found success under him before becoming head coaches.
Below is a season-by-season look at Vrabel's record, including his four consecutive winning seasons to open his career.
| Season | Record | Playoffs? |
| 2018 | 9-7 | — |
| 2019 | 9-7 | Lost in AFC championship game |
| 2020 | 11-5 | Lost in wild-card round |
| 2021 | 12-5 | Lost in divisional round |
| 2022 | 7-10 | — |
| 2023 | 6-11 | — |
Mike Vrabel contract
Vrabel had been under contract for two more years with the Titans. There had been reporting that his contract was up after the 2023 NFL season, but that turned out to be erroneous.
However, after Vrabel's firing, his contract will be voided as well. It isn't clear what the Titans will have to pay the coach for the remainder of its two-year duration, but Vrabel will be compensated for his firing.
For those wondering if the Titans considered trading Vrabel to another team to recoup an asset for his services, they did, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. However, they ultimately decided that they wanted to move quickly, so that resulted in Vrabel being fired.
