After Mike Vrabel’s shocking firing just over 48 hours ago, since which we have seen the departure of not one but THREE legendary coaches, many were surprised at the move, which Tennessee Titans owner, Amy Adams Strunk, justified by saying:
“I was just not willing to go to the back of the line and missing out on somebody we really wanted.”
Nonetheless, considering the haul that, just last year, the New Orleans Saints received as compensation for the services of Super Bowl winning head coach, Sean Payton, it is safe to say that the Titans likely sacrificed a first round pick in this upcoming draft in their desire to act with haste. Especially considering it has been revealed that, despite rumors of Mike Vrabel’s departure in the offseason, he never put in an actual trade request with the organization
Now, after a deep dive from The Athletic, it seems as if more light has been shed on this hasty moving on from a man who is still considered by many (including me) to be a bona fide top 10 coach in the National Football League.
Will Mike Vrabel go back to New England? In October, he returned for his induction into the Patriots’ Hall of Fame. His speech rubbed some in the Titans organization the wrong way. Over a dozen sources share: Why the Titans really fired Mike Vrabel https://t.co/aFz1STDwGJ
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 11, 2024
Why Did The Tennessee Titans Actually Fire Mike Vrabel?
It seems like the ending of Mike Vrabel’s contract had less to do with his on-field results, which, in all fairness, have been sub-par these past two years, and more to do with his tenuous relationship with Amy Adams Strunk.
Whilst it seems like the Tennessee Titans’ overtime loss to the Houston Texans – sans CJ Stroud – was the straw that broke the camel’s back, the true foundations for Vrabel’s dismissal run far deeper.
The Tennessee Titans controlling owner seemed to have an issue with a multitude of actions taken by Mike Vrabel over the past twelve months, starting with Vrabel’s lack of faith in new general manager, Ran Carthon’s readiness to be an NFL GM, and a desire to have more control over personnel decision making.
During the hiring process to replace GM Jon Robinson, who was fired by Strunk late last season, Vrabel made two comments to Strunk that created friction between them, three team or league sources said. Vrabel wanted full control over the roster, saying that he’d earned it, and Strunk pointedly disagreed. Strunk has carried a belief over the years that head coaches shouldn’t have full control, pointing to the way things went for the Titans in the later years of Jeff Fisher’s tenure, and watching from afar the issues that transpired for the Patriots with Bill Belichick and Bill O’Brien with the Texans.
When Carthon was close to getting the job, Vrabel told Strunk he liked Carthon but didn’t feel he was ready to become an NFL general manager. Vrabel’s suggestion: The Titans hire Carthon as the assistant GM, a promotion from his position as No. 3 in the 49ers’ pecking order. Strunk did not take kindly to this suggestion, and team sources believe her and Vrabel’s relationship took a hit as a result of that conversation.
Strunk also felt slighted by Vrabel’s comments made in October, where he stated:
“I don’t want you to take this organization for granted. 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.”
Seemingly taken as a dig at the Titans’ organizational practices, the Hollywood actress’ partial namesake did not take lightly to these comments, and they sat with her for a long time.
And despite all this continued tension between ownership and management, Amy Adams Strunk did genuinely want to keep Vrabel as late as November – but, the culmination of all these other ego-knocking bruises and the former head coach’s battle with Strunk and Carthon over the implementation of a new analytics team, all but left the writing to be on the wall.
The good news is that this is seemingly a win for all. The Titans have a declining roster with big holes at receiver (past a semi-resurgent DeAndre Hopkins), a woeful pass defence and big question marks over their future at the quarterback position, as it remains to be seen as to whether Will Levis will be able to make the next step in his progression as a passer and player. So, in some ways, this is the ideal time for Vrabel to catch a fresh start, with the remainder of his contract paid out, and choose a new team – as he will certainly have many suitors – that he feels is the best match for him.
As for Titans, they now have the opportunity to start again with a new coach, a quarterback on a rookie deal and a GM who is able to bring in his guy at head coach. It remains to be seen who will look back in 5 years time as the victor in this divorce, but suffice to say, after Strunk completed her termination meeting with Vrabel in just two minutes, there will be no love lost between the two sides.
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