Given Mike Vrabel’s situation with the Tennessee Titans, the hunt for Bill Belichick’s replacement may need to go in some less-obvious directions. The Titans have different ideas about Vrabel, who is supposedly the guy the New England Patriots want to take Belichick’s place as head coach.
I wonder if an NFL head coach has ever spent his bye week in an opposing owner's suite before.
Titans HC/new Patriots Hall of Famer Mike Vrabel is with Robert and Jonathan Kraft. pic.twitter.com/IrDtVrhN0U
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) October 22, 2023
“Frustrated New England Patriots fans can stop hoping owner Robert Kraft will trade with Tennessee and replace head coach Bill Belichick with his former player Mike Vrabel,” writes Dianna Russini of The Athletic. It isn’t taking place.
The Titans are stuck at 3-7 in the AFC South, but Vrabel is not going to be traded or fired. On the other hand, according to Russini, “the franchise strongly and collectively believes it has the right coach for long-term success,” based on multiple conversations with high-ranking Titans officials.
“The clearest vision this team has is who will be their leader for years to come,” Vrabel said, suggesting he plans to stay in Nashville for the long run.
Before Vrabel was seen sitting next to Patriots owner Robert Kraft during the team’s Week 7 game against the Buffalo Bills, following his induction into the Pats’ Hall of Fame, rumors about him taking over for Belichick were already circulating, according to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald.
