The Tennessee Titans fired coach Mike Vrabel on Tuesday after back-to-back losing seasons, and although he might have had trade value to other teams with a head-coaching vacancy, the team’s owner said she didn’t want to wait out such a scenario.
In an interview released by the team on Tuesday, controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk addressed the question of whether she had considered trading the coach instead of opting for termination.
“Yes, there was consideration. However, there’s a bit of misconception about a coach’s contract compared to a player’s contract. A coach’s contract can’t be traded unless the coach is a willing partner in that trade,” she explained. “So, yes, we thought about it, but ultimately, due to league rules, such a move might have set us back by three weeks. To secure the right head coach, I wasn’t willing to risk going to the back of the line and potentially missing out on someone we truly wanted.”
Earlier on Tuesday, in a statement announcing the firing of Coach Vrabel, Controlling Owner Strunk expressed the difficulty of her decision, stating, “This was as difficult as any I’ve made as Controlling Owner.”
Vrabel’s dismissal comes a year after the Titans underwent a change in the general manager position, with the hiring of Ran Carthon.
“As the NFL continues to innovate and evolve, I believe the teams best positioned for sustained success will be those who empower an aligned and collaborative team across all football functions. Last year, we began a shift in our approach to football leadership and made several changes to our personnel to advance that plan. As I continued to assess the state of our team, I arrived at the conclusion that the team would also benefit from the fresh approach and perspective of a new coaching staff,” explained Strunk in her statement.
During a news conference later that afternoon, Carthon dispelled speculation of any issues between him and Vrabel, stating, “Whether it’s personal or professional, we worked well together and had a good relationship. We were in lockstep.” He added, “I wish Vrabes nothing but the best, I consider him a friend, and I feel like we’ll be that way moving forward.”
Vrabel, 48, led the Titans to four consecutive winning seasons since his arrival in 2018. However, the team faced back-to-back challenging seasons, finishing multiple games under .500 in both instances.