Former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame during his team’s bye week this past season, and he apparently made some comments that irked the Titans’ owner.
Vrabel won three Super Bowls as a linebacker with the Patriots, and during his induction speech to fans in Foxborough, he offered praise for the organization that did not sit well with Tennessee owner Amy Adams Strunk, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and Joe Rexrode.
“I don’t want you to take this organization for granted,” Vrabel said in October. “I’ve been a lot of places. This is a special place with great leadership, great fans, great direction and great coaching. Enjoy it. It’s not like this everywhere.”
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Vrabel’s comments were perceived by some in the Titans organization as a slight to Tennessee—something Vrabel later would deny. But sure enough, in a shocking move, the Titans fired Vrabel on Tuesday, instantly making him one of the hottest names on the coaches market.
It’s unclear whether his comment about the Patriots organization played a role in his dismissal, but there was apparently friction between Strunk and Vrabel for some time, according to Russini and Rexrode. Vrabel apparently wanted full control over the roster, claiming he’d earned it, but Strunk disagreed.
Tennessee finished the season 6–11 and fired Vrabel after a two-minute conversation with Strunk and team president Burke Nihill on Tuesday.
