The Tennessee Titans have officially fired head coach Mike Vrabel, the team announced on Tuesday. While Vrabel no longer being Titans head coach is not shocking, the fact they didn’t trade him is.
So, why didn’t they take that road, which likely would’ve netted them a high draft pick?
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports that the team thought it would be too complicated and take too long, with the obvious fear that a delayed process could prevent them from being able to hire one of the top candidates.
Russini also added that Vrabel did not ask for a trade, nor did he ask to be let go. While that’s all well and good, there was more than enough smoke to see that Vrabel wasn’t happy and this relationship was heading for a divorce, one way or the other.
Vrabel’s firing had mixed reactions, with some believing the Titans have made a terrible mistake in not keeping their now-former head coach.
Others believe it was the right move to part with Vrabel, with their only issue being the team not trading him. Admittedly, this is the camp I’m in, as not getting something for Vrabel is a tough pill to swallow.
Here’s a look at the reactions.
More thoughts to come throughout the day, but firing Mike Vrabel is the wrong decision.#Titans will absolutely come to regret this. I believe that wholeheartedly.
— Sam Phalen (@Sam_Phalen) January 9, 2024
Moving on from Vrabel is bad.
This is even worse. https://t.co/0IiQ1QikPg
— Sam Phalen (@Sam_Phalen) January 9, 2024
If you are backing the #Titans not even exploring a trade because it’s too “complicated” and would “take too long,” you are supporting incompetency.
Your front office is tasked with anticipating and preparing for those moves.
This was either 1) a gut, instinctive decision…
— Jake (@JakeAndBall) January 9, 2024
The Titans had the No. 27 ranked scoring offense or worse in three of six seasons under Mike Vrabel.
It's an offensive league. You can't be bad on offense for multiple years and stick around.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 9, 2024
Yep this is exactly why. Jeopardizing the next HC search if they held on too long for a trade. Not ideal, but had to be done. https://t.co/WXWPC9VITk
— TicTacTitans (@TicTacTitans) January 9, 2024
Ms. Amy got me ready to run through a wall right now!!!!
I mean this is a PERFECT explanation and she is 100% correct!!!
This is an incredibly enviable position to be in and this team is on its way back up.
So excited for the #Titans future!! pic.twitter.com/Bs9HuP7qkX
— TicTacTitans (@TicTacTitans) January 9, 2024
I know some of yall are stuck with Vrabel and I do believe he’s a good coach. A good motivator that can build effective relationships. But this team lacked coaching. Like true football coaching and if you watched the offense and special teams and even the defense it’s so obvious
— Brandon Galloway (@bg901) January 9, 2024
#Titans feel like a flailing franchise right now. Vrabel had his faults, but there is no question that he’s a good football coach. Odds of them finding a better one now are slim imo.
— Mike Herndon (@MikeHerndonNFL) January 9, 2024
This is dreadful. Not even mad they parted ways with Vrabel but not trading him is a blunder. And, this is the reason they didn't trade him? Awful. https://t.co/uD6PEiBBn5
— The Titans Wire (@TheTitansWire) January 9, 2024
I am 1000% against firing Vrabel (I wanted him traded), but the situation must have become untenable and the #Titans don't want a Munchak situation.
If you want a timeline how this all came to a head goto https://t.co/Bn4Ty1WNXy for a video I had today
AAS has to get this… https://t.co/LyYAwmIQ8M
— Football & Other F Words (@FWordsPod) January 9, 2024
A humungous mistake. Ineptness at its finest.
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) January 9, 2024
People who dont watch the Titans on a regular basis will say this is a dumb move.
1. We were 13-21 over the past 2 seasons and missed the playoffs for a 2nd year in a row.
2. We havent scored 30 points in over 2 calendar years.It was time. It sucks but it was time.
— Brother Oil Rig #Section240 (@BonafideBro) January 9, 2024
It certainly feels like Amy talked to Vrabel about his plans and he said the same thing he always does about minimizing the passing game, playing close games, and how running the ball wins games, and she was sick of it.#Titans are trying to move into the 21st century
— Mr. Positivity (@jlomas72) January 9, 2024
There's your curveball. Stunning move, and Vrabel immediately becomes one of the hottest name on the market. And the Patriots might have an opening soon … https://t.co/ssRIjrr6Pn
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 9, 2024
Fair to say: Keep an eye on New England and what’s next for Bill Belichick. https://t.co/biLPzv1U51
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 9, 2024
Choosing Ran Carthon over Mike Vrabel, which make no mistake about it, is what happened in Tennessee is a…choice. Guy with no track record (he's been GM for less than a year) versus Vrabel, who was coaching in an AFC title game in 2020. Not saying Mike isn't okay with this…
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) January 9, 2024
If Mike Vrabel goes to the Patriots for nothing, it’s a failure by the #Titans organization https://t.co/j8DZ2HWK2O
— Austin Stanley (@AustinStanley81) January 9, 2024
Wow….Mike Vrabel getting fired is about as stupid as it gets….Tennessee’s roster was the issue, not the HC….He won’t be out of work long!@NFL
— Jerry Ostroski (@Ostroski_BigO) January 9, 2024
The best candidate for the Titans opening is Mike Vrabel which means it was a mistake to fire him.
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) January 9, 2024
he almost always got his teams ready for games they were expected to lose
won nearly 50% of games he was an underdog (3rd best mark in the NFL, min 15 games since 2018)
his biggest sin was probably his choice in OC/offensive strategy
but he is a damn good Head coach
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 9, 2024
Congratulations to the Tennessee Titans for being the only team in the NFL to not realize they had a great head coach in Mike Vrabel.
— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) January 9, 2024
Mike Vrabel is high quality. A unique coach. Teams will gather.
The Titans drift further into the lonely woods.
— Marc Sessler (@MarcSessler) January 9, 2024
This is a surprise. Mike Vrabel very easily clears the bar of Good Coach — team is always prepared, punches above their weight, he makes generally good in-game decisions, players like playing for him.
IDK who the Titans think they are. Those 2019-2021 playoff runs fooled them. https://t.co/RWDTXA7vw2
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) January 9, 2024
Dumb thing 1: The #Titans deciding to actually move on from Mike Vrabel
Dumb thing 2: Firing him instead of trading him and getting ANY compensation
Bad moves on top of bad moves
— Titans Therapy (@TitansTherapy) January 9, 2024
Pursuing a trade of Mike Vrabel would have set the #Titans back weeks, while other franchises already have their coaching searches underway.
If it was determined Vrabel was not going to be the HC moving forward, cutting ties now made the most sense.
— Lucas Panzica (@lucaspanzica) January 9, 2024
Huge mistake by Tennessee in firing Mike Vrabel. One of the best in the business.
Atlanta should be on the phone right now.
— Cam Marino (@MarinoNFL) January 9, 2024
People around the NFL have recently been monitoring the Titans’ situation, knowing Mike Vrabel would immediately become a priority candidate for coaching vacancies if he were out in Tennessee. He should get plenty of calls.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) January 9, 2024
#Titans leadership is clearly all-in on propelling this team into the modern NFL era.
Good. Go full cutting-edge. Analytics department to the nines. Young, innovative coaching staff. Renovated offensive approach. Do all of it.
This has to be the vision they lay out now. https://t.co/pdcIl3RPIV
— Easton Freeze (@eastonfreeze) January 9, 2024
