The Tennessee Titans have surprisingly fired their head coach Mike Vrabel after a rough 6-11 season. This was their second consecutive season with a record below .500 while he was in charge.
As Vrabel is now a free agent, many teams will be interested in hiring him as their coach. Currently, there are several openings for head coaches in the NFL.
Here are three teams that would highly benefit from having Mike Vrabel as their new head coach.
1. The New England Patriots are carrying on the Belichick legacy
Since Bill Belichick's coaching future is uncertain, the New England Patriots need to find a good coach to take over for him.
Mike Vrabel could be a great choice because he knows the Belichick way of doing things from his time as a player and coach with the Patriots. His ability to keep the defense in charge fits in well with the Patriots' tradition of being defensive-minded.
Vrabel's popularity and ability to bring a new point of view could be just what the Patriots need to make changes, even though there are still questions about his offensive strategy.
2. The Las Vegas Raiders: Building a Strong Culture
The Las Vegas Raiders need a strong leader to set the team's culture after going through several coaching changes in the past few years.
Mike Vrabel's style of leadership and years of experience could give the team the stability and direction it needs.
Getting Vrabel would be a huge boost for a team that wants to start from scratch, even if they don't have a lot of money. The Raiders already had a strong defense, which meant that Vrabel could build on that and lead them to a brighter future.
3. Atlanta Falcons: Defensive Expertise for a Team Going Through Change
There have been rumors that the Atlanta Falcons are interested in hiring Bill Belichick. If he is not available, it would make sense for them to pursue a coach who has been influenced by Belichick, such as Mike Vrabel.
The Falcons' offense is set up to succeed, and Vrabel's defensive skills could add to what they already do well. Arthur Blank might see Vrabel as the way to fix past coaching mistakes because he wants a head coach with more experience and a defensive mindset.
Even though the quarterback situation is still a worry, Vrabel's track record of leading playoff teams could give Atlanta a much-needed sense of stability.
Finally, Mike Vrabel's sudden availability gives NFL teams looking for a respected, experienced head coach a one-of-a-kind chance. These teams would all be much better off with Mike Vrabel as their new leader, whether it's to carry on a tradition in New England, build a strong culture in Las Vegas, or bring defensive expertise to Atlanta. The race to hire Vrabel heats up as the coaching carousel turns, which should make for an interesting NFL offseason storyline.