In his first year with the New England Patriots, head coach Mike Vrabel has led the team to one of the most impressive year-over-year turnarounds in NFL history. Now, just one win away from a Super Bowl, here’s a closer look at how Vrabel returned to the Patriots and why the Titans decided to let him go.
Why Mike Vrabel’s Exit From the Tennessee Titans Shocked the NFL
On January 9, 2024, Adam Schefter announced the Tennessee Titans would be letting go of coach Vrabel. The news came just two days after the regular-season finale, a year in which the Titans posted a 6-11 record, last in the AFC South.
Despite Tennessee’s poor record, the firing came as a surprise at the time. Vrabel had spent six years with the organization, posting a 54-45 record. Additionally, Vrabel helped the Titans to the playoffs in three consecutive seasons.
2019 was the most notable, as the Titans reached the AFC Championship, largely thanks to Derrick Henry, Vrabel, and the rest of the staff. Unfortunately, they fell short against the Chiefs, but it was an impressive season nonetheless.
In 2020, during the pandemic year, the Titans took a step back. Although they reached the Wild Card, they fell to the Baltimore Ravens in a low-scoring affair.
2021 looked more promising, as the Titans secured the AFC’s top seed and a first-round bye. Vrabel also earned Coach of the Year honors. However, Tennessee fell to the eventual AFC champion, the Cincinnati Bengals, in the Divisional Round.
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Unfortunately, after 2021, Vrabel couldn’t quite find that same success. Vrabel’s Titans closed the 2022 season with a 7-10 record, and as previously mentioned, a 6-11 record in 2023. When fired in early 2024, many fans still believed Vrabel should have been given a longer leash, given his early success.
Vrabel Sparks New England Patriots’ Stunning Turnaround
On January 12, 2025, Vrabel and the New England Patriots agreed to a multi-year deal, naming him the franchise’s new head coach. It was a homecoming of sorts, as Vrabel won three Super Bowls with the organization across eight seasons as a linebacker during his playing days.
Vrabel, of course, quickly proved the reunion was a match made in heaven. The Patriots went from 4-13 and last in the AFC East in 2024, without him, to 14-3 and atop the division in 2025, with him. Their offense ranked second among all units according to the PFSN NFL Offense Impact metric, while their defense ranked 12th.
Vrabel’s decision to hire offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels also paid off in the second year. QB Drake Maye developed into an MVP candidate and earned a second-best 91.1 score via PFSN NFL QB Impact Metrics. The Patriots’ turnaround as a whole has even put Vrabel in contention for his second Coach of the Year award.
After wins over the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, and Denver Broncos in the 2025–26 playoffs, the Patriots will face the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. Week after week, Vrabel and his staff exceeded expectations. Now, with the Lombardi Trophy on the line, New England will once again rely on Vrabel to deliver his best performance yet.
