Tag: Vrabel

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) talks to his offensive line in the huddle during second half action at Highmark Stadium where the Buffalo Bills hosted the New England Patriots in Orchard Park on Dec. 22, 2024.

Pats coach: QB Drake Maye’s leadership skills ‘a work in progress’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye proved his football skills during a solid 12-start rookie campaign.

Heading into 2025, head coach Mike Vrabel wants to see his young signal-caller improve his leadership skills.

“I think that there is a lot of room to grow,” Vrabel told reporters Monday, noting that Maye is just 22 and early in his pro development.

“I think there’s a lot of natural leadership qualities. I think I have to encourage him, continue to encourage him and to put him in those positions to do that so that the players understand that there’s a different version of all of us,” Vrabel said. “There’s one that’s maybe off the field, there’s one in the meeting room, and then there’s a version on the field, which we all have to understand is somewhat different than what it may be off the field.”

Vrabel, entering his first season as the head coach in New England, said leadership isn’t the exclusive property of a quarterback.

Vrabel should know, having been a leader of the Patriots’ defense as a linebacker during the 2000s before coaching the Tennessee Titans from 2018-23.

“I don’t think it matters if you’re a quarterback, offensive lineman, running back or defensive back. It’s about your ability to reach certain players,” Vrabel said. “Again, we don’t want to have any gaps. Hopefully, you know what to do, you’re prepared, you do things the right way, you’re a good listener.

“I think you can adapt to what happens and adapt to the people you’re talking to maybe based on what they need. Sometimes people need a little different encouraging, and sometimes you need a little bit of a firmer hand and maybe a little bit of a firmer stance. I think that’s all important of understanding and getting to know each person before you can start to lead them.”

Vrabel was asked whether Maye has been able to push his teammates without pushing their buttons or worrying about how his leadership style might affect his popularity.

“I think that’s evolving and that’s a work in progress,” he said. “I think we’re all learning each other a little bit. I think we’re all learning the system and learning the plays, and once we master it, I think that’s going to start to separate itself.”

Maye made the Pro Bowl and went 3-9 as a starter last year after being drafted No. 3 overall. He passed for 2,276 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore (90) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Pats DT Christian Barmore (blood clots) expected at voluntary program

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New England Patriots starting defensive tackle Christian Barmore, who was limited to just four games last season because of an issue with blood clots, is expected to join the team next week for its voluntary offseason program.

That’s according to first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, who talked with reporters Monday at the NFL’s annual meeting in Palm Beach, Fla.

Vrabel said he saw Barmore, 25, recently and could tell by the lineman’s “energy and presence” that he was feeling better but that medical staff would continue to monitor him.

“It’s something very serious. We take the health of our players extremely serious, especially when you’re talking about something like blood clots,” Vrabel said, adding the team would develop a plan for him.

Barmore, taken by the Patriots in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, missed the first 10 games last season. He played in four games, then missed the rest of the season due to a recurrence of the blood clots.

In 48 career games (11 starts), Barmore has 13.5 sacks, 139 tackles, 33 QB hits and one forced fumble. He signed four-year, $83 million contract extension with the franchise on April 29, 2024.

–Field Level Media

Mar 31, 2025; Palm Beach, FL, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel answers questions from the media during the NFL Annual League Meeting at The Breakers. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel enamored with OT options in draft

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Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel admits he likes the options expected to be available when New England is on the clock with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 draft.

He just doesn’t know exactly who will still be on the board.

“You tell me who goes 1, 2 and 3, and I’ll tell you who goes 4,” Vrabel said Monday at the NFL’s annual spring meeting in Palm Beach, Fla.

New England didn’t add a left tackle in free agency and Vrabel confesses the “draft is a good option for us” to fill what is viewed as a glaring need. The Patriots signed 34-year-old Morgan Moses to play right tackle, and the Patriots plan to give Caedan Wallace an opportunity to compete for a starting job, Vrabel said.

While not ruling out a trade down from No. 4, the top offensive tackle prospects in the draft — LSU’s Will Campbell and Missouri’s Armand Membou — are names Vrabel has heavily studied.

“They’re great young, talented players that have great film. Will has a lot of snaps at left tackle. Membou has played right, but there’s a lot of guys that have played right and left and switched. Those are two good young players to talk about in that conversation,” Vrabel said.

Campbell’s wingspan of less than 78 inches was a red flag at the NFL Scouting Combine and his arm length of 32 5/8 inches is well under the prototype baseline most teams follow. Vrabel insisted Campbell’s college film at LSU proved he can play left tackle in the NFL. He also indicated there are no doubts in the Patriots’ building that Membou, a 332-pound freakish athlete who played right tackle at Missouri, can operate on quarterback Drake Maye’s blindside.

Vrabel went out of his way to warn media to “be careful” projecting the Patriots to pick a player at the position because it’s viewed as a dire need. He said personnel boss Eliot Wolf and the scouting staff are focused on adding premium talent regardless of position, which could include wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter of Colorado.

The Patriots have Hunter ranked as the No. 1 wide receiver in the draft. New England wouldn’t insist on Hunter converting to offense full-time after he played both ways at Colorado, logging more than 100 snaps per game as a two-way star and Heisman Trophy winner. New England isn’t joining the debate about how difficult the double workload would be in the NFL, because there is no true precedent, Vrabel said.

“We’ve never seen a player necessarily do it,” Vrabel said. “There are some things that he can improve on by probably concentrating more on just one position, but never going to put any restrictions on Travis or any player. We’d be open to playing everybody that we had at more than one position, anything that would help the football team.”

Vrabel said defensive tackle Christian Barmore is cleared to participate in voluntary team workouts and would be closely monitored in his upramp to return from a blood clotting condition. Barmore, 25, experienced recurring symptoms in December after playing four games and his future was uncertain. Vrabel said Monday that the Patriots have “a great plan for him” now that he’s feeling better.

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2025; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) warms up before the start of the game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Eliot Wolf: Patriots ‘doing what’s necessary’ to improve

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INDIANAPOLIS — Eliot Wolf and the New England Patriots are gearing up to make the roster good enough to use the No. 4 pick on the best player available.

A big part of his recruiting pitch to free agents centers around quarterback Drake Maye, selected third overall in 2024.

“It’s a more attractive destination than it was last year,” Wolf said Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Wolf said “ultimately, it’s my final say” on roster decisions but repeated head coach Mike Vrabel’s position that they’ll work together to make major decisions to fill out the roster.

Maye will be at the center of the attempted turnaround. He went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Wolf listed running back and defensive line as two of the positions he believes are strongest in the upcoming draft, indicating it might be “meatier” in the middle rounds at positions like offensive tackle and wide receiver.

Connecting the dots, considering Vrabel and Wolf stressed getting better on the offensive line, they likely are to be in the mix for top free agent blockers.

The Patriots allowed 52 sacks last season; Maye was sacked 34 times.

“The game is always won on the line, and that was before the Super Bowl,” Wolf said, noting he felt responsible for every hit Jacoby Brissett and Maye took. “We took some swings. Taking swings ultimately isn’t good enough. We went 4-13. We have to have results. We need to continue to improve the roster.”

Vrabel and Wolf said the Patriots are planning to spend responsibly and get more out of their assets. Wolf said he was accountable for decisions that didn’t pan out building the roster in 2024.

“It’s about doing what’s necessary. Just didn’t get enough done,” Wolf said. “The free agency class didn’t live up to expectations. The draft class, it’s too early to tell, but certainly we expected more out of some of those guys.”

–Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

Aug 19, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Reports: Josh McDaniels returning for third stint as Pats’ OC

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Josh McDaniels is heading back to New England for his third tour as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator, several reports said Tuesday.

McDaniels, 48, will take over an offense quarterbacked by rising sophomore Drake Maye on new coach Mike Vrabel’s first staff in Foxborough, Mass.

McDaniels spent 2001-08 and 2012-21 on the Patriots’ staff in a variety of roles, first rising to the offensive coordinator post in 2006. He was a part of all six Super Bowl titles of the Bill Belichick era.

He is also known for a pair of failed stints as a head coach. He was fired by the Denver Broncos 12 games into his second season with the team in 2010 and had history repeat itself eight games into his second season leading the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023.

McDaniels did not coach anywhere in 2024, with Sports Illustrated reporting that he spent the year “evolving” his offense after spending time around various NFL and college teams.

In his most recent season as New England’s offensive coordinator, 2021, the Patriots ranked sixth in the NFL in scoring and 15th in yards per game. That was Mac Jones’ rookie year, when he was named a Pro Bowler; he regressed in the following years without McDaniels and was eventually traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Maye, 22, threw for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 13 appearances (12 starts) as a rookie after being selected No. 3 overall in the 2024 draft.

The Patriots went 4-13 and fired Jerod Mayo after one season as their coach following Belichick.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson watches a play against Tennessee Titans during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.

Take 5: Early candidates to be Saints’ next head coach

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The New Orleans Saints became the second team to get a head start on the NFL coaching carousel by firing Dennis Allen on Monday.

He follows Robert Saleh, who was let go by the New York Jets last month. Allen’s departure appeared imminent as the Saints dropped their seventh consecutive game on Sunday following two wins to begin the season.

Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi will serve as the team’s interim head coach for the remainder of the season, and here are five early candidates to become the Saints’ next head coach in the offseason.

5. Mike Vrabel, Browns Consultant
Vrabel, 49, is spending this season as a consultant for Cleveland after parting ways with Tennessee last offseason. The NFL’s Coach of the Year in 2021, Vrabel spent six years at the helm of the Titans. He is highly respected in league circles and is expected to be on the short list for several vacancies this offseason.

4. Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions Defensive Coordinator
As impressive as the Lions’ offense is, Glenn has been doing an outstanding job leading the defense, which has continued to befuddle opponents following the devastating injury to pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit is allowing an average of 357.1 yards per game, but a solid portion of that is coming in garbage time of blowout victories. The Lions are allowing only 18.5 points per game, good for sixth in the NFL entering Monday night.

Glenn, 52, has ties to the Saints’ franchise. After closing his playing career with a season in New Orleans in 2008, he returned to serve as the team’s defensive backs coach from 2016-20 before taking the reins of the Lions’ defense. The big hurdle in a potential third stint in New Orleans could be the team’s interest in an offensive-minded head coach following the failed Allen tenure.

3. Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills Offensive Coordinator
Brady has been lauded for his work with Josh Allen & Co. since taking over midseason in 2023. Despite deal away Stefon Diggs last offseason and Allen working with a mediocre group of wide receivers, Buffalo is fifth in the NFL averaging 28.9 points per game.

Brady also has strong ties to New Orleans, working as an offensive assistant for the Saints from 2017-18 before moving on to become the passing game coordinator for LSU the following season. After two years as the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator, Brady moved on to Buffalo in 2022. He would potentially become the youngest head coach in the NFL, having just turned 35 in September.

2. Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens Offensive Coordinator
Sticking with the offensive-minded theme, Monken currently oversees the NFL’s fourth-ranked offense in terms of total yards and No. 2 scoring offense at 31.4 points per game. Monken, 58, is a longtime offensive coordinator at the pro and college levels. He came to Baltimore last season after running Georgia’s offense for three years, winning a pair of national titles in the process.

Monken began his coaching career at Division II Grand Valley State in 1989 and has served stints at Notre Dame, Oklahoma State and LSU in addition to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Bucs and Cleveland Browns.

1. Ben Johnson, Lions Offensive Coordinator
Yes, Bill Belichick might be the biggest name available this offseason but no one is shaping up to be more sought after than Johnson. The Lions “only” have the seventh-ranked total offense in the league but Detroit is regularly blowing opponents out on the strength of an offense that leads the NFL with an average of 32.3 points per game.

How interested Johnson is in the Saints’ job could depend upon where New Orleans stacks up at the end of the season in terms of landing one of the top QBs in the draft and which other vacancies become available.

–Field Level Media

Sep 24, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick chats with New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh pre game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Jets Next Head Coach Odds: Bill Belichick tops lengthy list

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Taking on the pressure of being the head coach of the New York Jets is not for the faint of heart, and speculation began to run rampant immediately after Robert Saleh was fired just five games into the season.

At least one sportsbook is already offering odds on who will be patrolling the Jets’ sideline come Week 1 of next season. The list of more than 50 names is topped by none other than Bill Belichick, who guided division rival New England to six Super Bowl titles.

Belichick, 72, reportedly wants to coach next season, and he’ll potentially have his pick among several openings that could be created over the next few months. SportsBetting.ag had previously listed Dallas and Jacksonville as the leading candidates to hire Belichick, followed by Philadelphia.

The Jets were tied for the fifth-shortest odds to hire Belichick just two weeks ago, but he is now the +200 favorite to ultimately replace Saleh. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will have a dozen games to build his case to earn the job permanently, but he is not among the favorites by the sportsbook.

“He is a tough coach who has the respect of the coaches and the players on this team,” owner Woody Johnson said of Ulbrich. “I believe he along with the coaches on this staff can get the most out of our talented team and attain the goals we established this offseason.”

The second-shortest odds belong to another experienced head coach with Patriots ties. Former New England linebacker Mike Vrabel parted ways with the Tennessee Titans after last season. Similar to Belichick, Vrabel was considered for other head coaching vacancies last offseason before ultimately joining the Cleveland Browns as a consultant.

Vrabel was installed at +500 behind Belichick after news of Saleh’s firing broke on Tuesday, but those odds had shortened to +425 just a few hours later. Meanwhile, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson had held steady as the third favorite at +600.

JETS NEXT HEAD COACH ODDS*
Bill Belichick (+200)
Mike Vrabel (+425)
Ben Johnson (+600)
Bobby Slowik (+800)
Todd Monken (+1000)
Joe Brady (+1100)
Aaron Glenn (+1400)
Matt Nagy (+1400)
Arthur Smith (+1600)
Adam Stenavich (+1800)
Teryl Austin (+1800)
Brian Flores (+2000)
Jeff Ulbrich (+2000)
Bobby Babich (+2500)
Jesse Minter (+2500)
Kliff Kingsbury (+2500)
Nick Sorensen (+2500)
Zac Robinson (+2500)
Brian Schottenheimer (+3300)
Dan Pitcher (+3300)
Jim Schwartz (+3300)
Kellen Moore (+3300)
Wes Phillips (+3300)
Greg Roman (+4000)
Jim Bob Cooter (+4000)
Klint Kubiak (+4000)
Liam Coen (+4000)
Shane Waldron (+4000)
Vic Fangio (+4000)
Chris Shula (+5000)
DeMarcus Covington (+5000)
Drew Petzing (+5000)
Ejiro Evero (+5000)
Frank Smith (+5000)
Gus Bradley (+5000)
Jeff Hafley (+5000)
Mike Kafka (+5000)
Mike LaFleur (+5000)
Zach Orr (+5000)
Lane Kiffin (+10000)
Lincoln Riley (+10000)
Matt Rhule (+10000)
Nathaniel Hackett (+10000)
Patrick Graham (+10000)
Ron Rivera (+10000)
Steve Sarkisian (+10000)
Pete Carroll (+15000)
Deion Sanders (+25000)
Jim Harbaugh (+25000)
Nick Saban (+25000)
Rex Ryan (+25000)
Tony Romo (+25000)
Joe Namath (+500000)
*SportsBetting.ag odds provided for entertainment purposes only.

Despite having four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers at the helm, the Jets rank 27th in total offense (286.6 yards per game) and 25th in scoring (18.6).

CBS Sports reported that Saleh was “seriously contemplating” firing offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett before Johnson made his own move. It’s possible Hackett may not keep play-calling duties with Ulbrich in charge.

“We’re gonna take a deep dive on that in the next 36 hours and look at every possibility,” Ulbrich said. “I do not see changes in necessarily titles and positions. As far as responsibilities and the process itself, we’re gonna take a hard look at that.”

Saleh, 45, compiled a 20-36 record with no playoff appearances in 56 games since taking over the Jets in 2021. New York last made the playoffs in the 2010 season, losing in the AFC Championship Game for the second straight year.

–Field Level Media

Oct 8, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Next Patriots coach odds pulled after huge Jerod Mayo action

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Within an hour of releasing odds on who will succeed Bill Belichick as the New England Patriots’ head coach, a sportsbook was forced to pull them down after a rush of action on Jerod Mayo.

Mayo opened as the -350 favorite by SportsBetting.ag. When those odds shortened to -700 within an hour, the book pulled the market down.

Mayo, 37, was a first-round pick by the Patriots in 2008 and spent all eight of his NFL seasons playing for Belichick as one of the game’s top inside linebackers. He later joined Belichick’s staff as the position coach and has worked with New England’s inside linebackers for the past five years.

He’s a logical choice to fill Belichick’s legendary shoes and would provide continuity for the franchise. So, too, would Mike Vrabel. The 48-year-old played eight seasons for the Patriots and offers something significant that Mayo’s resume lacks – head-coaching experience.

Vrabel, fired as Tennessee’s head coach earlier this week, was being offered at +250 by the book to replace Belichick. Vrabel is expected to be on the short list for several of what is now eight head-coaching vacancies around the NFL.

The next shortest odds belonged to Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson at +400. No one else had shorter than the +1400 odds placed on Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.

And what about Belichick’s future?

The six-time Super Bowl winning coach said he is “excited for the future” on Thursday and the 71-year-old is expected to draw interest for multiple openings as well.

NFL Network and ESPN reported at least three teams have serious interest in him. NFL Network reported the Atlanta Falcons, who fired Arthur Smith on Sunday, will be at the head of the line to talk to Belichick and would be willing to give him full control of the football operation as a coach, general manager and vice president.

The Falcons were installed as the +100 favorite to hire Belichick. Atlanta has a deep-pocketed owner in Arthur Blank, but questions at quarterback that must be addressed — especially considering the struggles the Patriots have endured at the position since Tom Brady departed.

BILL BELICHICK NEXT TEAM ODDS
Atlanta Falcons (+100)
Washington Commanders (+300)
Tennessee Titans (+400)
Carolina Panthers (+700)
Los Angeles Chargers (+800)
Las Vegas Raiders (+900)
Seattle Seahawks (+2500)

(Odds provided for entertainment purposes only. SportsBetting.ag is not a regulated sportsbook in the United States).

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik smiles before the game against the Cleveland Browns at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Take 5: Titans candidates to replace Mike Vrabel

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Tennessee Titans find themselves in a precarious spot as they enter one of the more intriguing head coaching cycles in recent memory.

Mike Vrabel, who was fired Tuesday, took the team to three playoff appearances in six seasons, including an AFC Championship Game. The team could also be parting ways with franchise running back Derrick Henry, who is a pending free agent, and got to see quarterback Will Levis attempt 255 passes before injuries ended his rookie season.

Tennessee will also be competing in a coaching cycle that will include at minimum Washington, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Carolina and the Los Angeles Chargers.

How attractive the Titans’ situation is remains to be seen. Here are five candidates controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk and general manager Ran Carthon may consider to replace Vrabel.

5. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
Fresh off leading the Wolverines to the national title on Monday, Harbaugh is expected to be heavily sought-after by several NFL teams. However, would the Titans be appealing? The Chargers, for example, have an established franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert. Meanwhile, Washington would provide Harbaugh an opportunity to be close to his brother, John, in Baltimore without competing in the same conference.

4. Ben Johnson, Lions OC
Johnson, 37, is one of the hottest names in the NFL coaching circle after leading Detroit’s offense for the past two seasons. He’s expected to interview for multiple openings this offseason and like Harbaugh, Tennessee will likely have to compete with potentially more attractive suitors if the Titans go after Johnson. With Levis showing potential in his first partial NFL season, bringing in a coach who can aid in his development will be a priority — whether that’s a head coach or an offensive coordinator.

3. Frank Smith, Dolphins OC
Coach Mike McDaniel calls the plays for the Dolphins, but Smith is considered another rising offensive mind. Miami led the league in total yards during the regular season and finished second in scoring. Smith, 42, has already been contacted for a potential interview with the Panthers. He broke into the NFL as an assistant for Sean Payton in New Orleans in 2010 and has spent time with the Bears, Raiders and Chargers before joining McDaniel’s staff last year.

2. Dan Quinn, Cowboys DC
As a highly respected coordinator with previous NFL head coaching experience, Quinn is also expected to draw interest from several teams. That includes the Panthers, Chargers and Commanders, who reportedly already have plans to interview Quinn at the end of next week. The 53-year-old led the Falcons to a Super Bowl in five-plus seasons as Atlanta’s coach, and Quinn could be viewed as the best fit to quickly return the Titans to competitive status in the AFC South.

1. Bobby Slowik, Texans OC
Carthon worked in San Francisco’s front office when Slowik was on the 49ers’ staff under coach Kyle Shanahan. Slowik moved to Houston with new Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, and has been credited with aiding the immediate success of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. Slowik, 36, has only one year of play-calling experience under his belt, but Houston did win the AFC South with Stroud throwing for 23 touchdowns against just five interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel reacts after a play during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Mike Vrabel, Titans to decide future in meeting this week

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Meetings with team ownership and general manager Ran Carthon are scheduled this week to determine the fate of head coach Mike Vrabel with the Tennessee Titans.

According to reports, Vrabel isn’t a lock to return, bringing headwinds of finality to the regular-season finale Sunday in Nashville against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Titans (5-11) entered Week 18 as the only AFC South team eliminated from the playoffs.

The game is expected to be the last in a Titans uniform for quarterback Ryan Tannehill, and it could be the end of running back Derrick Henry’s time with the team.

Both players are in the final years of their contracts and Carthon, hired in January 2023, inherited Vrabel as a head coach.

Vrabel, a former linebacker in the NFL and All-American defensive lineman at Ohio State, has been linked to potential openings elsewhere, most prominently as a possible replacement with the New England Patriots if Bill Belichick exits Foxborough. Vrabel, 48, played for the Patriots from 2001-08 and was on three of the team’s Super Bowl championship rosters. He’s a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame.

Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk chose Carthon as GM over Vrabel’s favored in-house candidate, vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden. There is no known divide between Carthon and Vrabel since the two were paired atop the team’s power structure, however.

Hired in 2018, Vrabel has a 55-48 record, including 2-3 in the playoffs, entering Week 18, but the Titans are 5-18 in the past 23 games. Tennessee lost the final seven games of the 2022 season.

Vrabel’s contract runs through 2025, with a team option for 2026.

–Field Level Media