It’s hard not to think the Tennessee Titans are feeling the sting of their decision to part ways with Mike Vrabel. Just two years after his dismissal, Vrabel is headed back to the Super Bowl-this time as the head coach of the New England Patriots.
Let’s rewind for a second. Vrabel was let go by the Titans on January 9, 2024.
Fast forward to January 25, 2026, and he’s hoisting the AFC Championship trophy in Foxborough. That’s not just a turnaround-it’s a statement.
Here’s a stat that’ll hit Titans fans like a cold wind off the Cumberland River: since December 21, the Patriots have won as many games as the Titans have since they fired Vrabel. That’s not a coincidence. That’s culture shift in action.
A year ago, New England was floundering. The Patriots limped to a 4-13 finish under Jerod Mayo, looking like a team in search of an identity.
Enter Vrabel. He didn’t just tweak the roster-he reshaped it.
Players who didn’t align with his vision were shown the door. He brought back that hard-nosed, no-nonsense edge that defined his playing days and early coaching years.
And it’s paying off.
A big part of that success? His connection with second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
Vrabel and Maye have clicked in a way that’s rare for a young QB and a veteran coach. Vrabel’s leadership has given Maye the structure to grow, while Maye’s talent has given Vrabel the firepower to execute his vision.
It’s been a mutual elevation-and the results speak for themselves.
Meanwhile, back in Nashville, the Titans are still searching for answers. They finished with the worst record in the league a year ago, which earned them the top pick and a shot at a franchise reset.
That pick turned into Cam Ward, a quarterback with plenty of upside. And to be fair, Ward showed flashes late in the season that suggest the Titans might have something to build around.
But the road back to relevance still looks long.
The contrast between the two franchises is striking. The Patriots were in disarray, and now they’re AFC champions. The Titans, once a playoff regular under Vrabel, have bottomed out and are trying to claw their way back with a rookie quarterback and a new direction.
As for Vrabel? He’s coaching in the biggest game of the year, leading a team that bought into his message from day one. He’s got a young quarterback, a reenergized franchise, and a shot at a Lombardi Trophy.
Safe to say, he’s not looking back. But in Tennessee, they just might be.