Dan Quinn is set to become the next head coach of the Washington Commanders and, in turn, has concluded the hiring cycle for 2024, leaving two notable names without head coaching positions — Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel was fired by the Titans back on Jan. 9 after a 6-11 season in Tennessee. However, he was instantly viewed as a top head-coaching candidate this cycle.
Vrabel interviewed with some teams, including the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, and Los Angeles Chargers, but all of them went in different directions. Recently, NFL insider Dianna Russini revealed a shocking reason why Vrabel has missed out on a head coaching gig.
Why Didn’t Mike Vrabel Get a Head Coaching Job?
The Athletic’s Russini revealed an interesting reason why Vrabel was not hired for a head coaching job after being let go by the Titans, saying he can be “very intimidating” due to his size.
“I don’t think there was a fit for him,” Russini said. “I don’t think he sat in front of any owner who thought that his style was going to work for what they were looking for. … I had a [general manager] at the Senior Bowl who mentioned to me Vrabel’s physical build — that he’s a very large human being — and can be very intimidating to people in an organization that are going to be part of these decisions. And that is a factor.”
Mike Vrabel is a former NFL player himself and was last listed at 6’4″, 261 pounds, so he is rather large, but this still seems like a bizarre reason why an organization would not hire him.
Russini also said she laughed at the notion, but the general manager followed up by saying, “I’m just telling you, I’ve been in rooms. And somebody’s physical presence can make a difference.”
Vrabel was 54-45 with three playoff appearances in six seasons with the Titans. He reached the AFC Championship Game during the 2019 campaign and followed up with an 11-5 record in 2020 and a 12-5 record in 2021.
While the Titans went a combined 13-21 the past two seasons, it was still surprising when he wasn’t hired as a head coach given his track record and his resume, dating back to being a player in the NFL.
The Chargers decided to go with Jim Harbaugh, who was arguably the top head-coaching candidate this cycle. While the Falcons went with a defensive-minded head coach in their search, Raheem Morris may have had the edge over Vrabel due to his familiarity with ownership, having coached for the franchise from 2015 to 2020.
Meanwhile, the Panthers decided to go with an offensive-minded coach in former Tampa Bay Buccaneers OC Dave Canales to try and get Bryce Young on a positive track in his development.
While things may not have worked out in Vrabel’s favor this cycle, he will likely be a top candidate next year.
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!
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