The Tennessee Titans fired coach Mike Vrabel on Tuesday.
Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strong released the following statement on Tuesday:
“Earlier today, I spoke with Mike Wrabel and told him about my decision to change head coach. As I told Coach Wrabel, this decision was as difficult as any I've made as a controlling owner.”
Vrabel's firing comes a year after the Titans made a change in general manager and hired Ron Carton.
“As the NFL continues to innovate and evolve, I believe that those who empower an aligned and collaborative team across all football operations will be the best teams for sustained success. Last year, we initiated a change in our approach to football leadership. I made changes to our personnel to advance that program. “On further evaluation, I came to the conclusion that the team would benefit from the fresh approach and perspective of the new coaches,” Strunk said.
Vrabel, 48, led Tennessee to four consecutive winning seasons after arriving in 2018, but the Titans again experienced disappointing seasons, twice finishing several games under .500.
The Titans finished 6-11 this season.
“I will never shy away from admitting that I have high expectations for the football team and every aspect of the Titans organization. Our vision is not simply to produce more wins than losses, but to continue to compete for championships. While disappointing, I see early signs of improvement taking shape. Last year “We added a promising young quarterback and several talented players to our roster. With a coaching search, enviable cap space and top-10 draft position, this offseason is as important as any in our history. I'm excited for the coming weeks and months. Let's meet that moment,” Strunk said in his statement.
The Titans selected quarterback Will Lewis in the second round of last year's draft, and he started nine games. The Titans have the No. 7 pick in the 2024 draft.
Titans star Derrick Henry, who will become a free agent in March, told The Athletic he was stunned by Vrabel's firing.
“Wow. Wow. I'm blown away. Coach Vrabel is the men's leader. He's a great coach and teacher. I know he'll get another opportunity right away. I'm looking forward to it,” he said.
Vrabel guided Tennessee to AFC South championships in 2020 and 2021, and the Titans earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC in 2021, the same year Vrabel was named NFL Coach of the Year.
Vrabel finished his Titans tenure with a 54-45 record. He was 2-3 in the postseason, including in 2019 when he led Tennessee to the AFC Championship game.
