During Mike Vrabel's tenure in Nashville, no team in the NFL had the kinds of kicker issues the Tennessee Titans had.
After the Titans had the steady leg of Ryan Succop from 2014-18, things went off the rails in 2019 after Succop started the season on Injured Reserve before struggling and being placed on the list again to close out the campaign.
And that was the beginning of the kicker Carousel in Nashville. From 2019-22, the Titans saw 11 different kickers (including Succop) attempt either a field goal or extra point (or both) through the 2022 campaign, and they even brought in a kickoff specialist who is not included in that 11.
During an appearance on Pardon My Take, Vrabel reflected on what was all-time bad luck for the franchise at the kicker position.
"I don't know how many we've gone through, but there should be a game, 'Have you kicked for the Tennessee Titans from 2018-2022?' and I wouldn't be able to tell you if they did or not," Vrabel joked. "I think one year we probably had six field goal kickers."
Kickers completely forget how to play football the minute they sign with the Titans @PardonMyTake pic.twitter.com/d7HT3TB26I
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) July 19, 2024
The thing about some of the Titans' failed field goal kickers is they went on to have success in other places after failing in Tennessee, like Cairo Santos with the Chicago Bears and Greg Joseph with the Minnesota Vikings.
"I see these guys that kicked for us. Cairo Santos missed four field goals against the Bills," Vrabel recalled. "You know the last field goal he missed was that fourth one against the Bills. Then he goes to Chicago and I don't think the guy has missed since. It was unreal.
"And I'd watch every week, Greg Joseph, he can only kick 52-yarders when he was in Tennessee. Apparently, he made a 65-yarder or whatever he did to win a game. I'm like, 'Nice kick, Greg.' These guys are great guys, apparently they get to Broadway and they can't make 'em."
Vrabel is exaggerating with Santos, but there's no question the kicker has been far better than what he was in Nashville. Santos missed five field goals in total with the Titans in just five games yet he hasn't missed more than four in any of the previous four full seasons with the Bears.
Fortunately for the Titans, they finally found at least some semblance of stability with Randy Bullock, although he couldn't be trusted with longer field goals. Then, the Titans finally hit gold with Nick Folk in 2023.
Unfortunately for Vrabel, he only enjoyed once season of Folk before he was fired earlier this offseason. Vrabel is now serving as a consultant with the Cleveland Browns while he awaits his next head-coach opportunity.
