Vrabel can see himself as head coach again, 'at the right time'

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- Former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel, now a consultant with the Cleveland Browns , said Tuesday that he is still open to being an NFL head coach.

"At the right time," Vrabel said. "There's a time and place for that. It's not going to be anytime soon. So, I think the things that I'll ultimately learn here may help me the next time that I get an opportunity to have one of those interviews."

Vrabel, 48, was fired in January after consecutive losing seasons in Tennessee. In six years as head coach, Vrabel led the Titans to four straight winning seasons since his arrival in 2018, which included division titles in 2020 and 2021, the latter of which earned him NFL Coach of the Year. Vrabel finished his Tennessee tenure 54-45.

"I would say nothing surprises me in the National Football League," Vrabel said of being fired. "That's part of the job. It's disappointing that you couldn't do the job the way that they wanted it or envisioned it."

Vrabel interviewed for head-coaching vacancies with the Los Angeles Chargers , Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers this past cycle.

Vrabel, an Akron, Ohio, native who grew up a Browns fan, joined the team as a coaching and personnel consultant in March. During training camp, he has been seen providing scout-team looks for the offense and working extensively with the tight ends. He also contributed to the Browns' pre-draft process, watching film of prospects and writing reports.

"He helps me a ton in all the head-coaching areas," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. "And then I just think it's valuable to have a former defensive player, former defensive coach in the offensive meetings. So, [Vrabel] is there with us in the offensive room, giving us that perspective from the defensive side, and then in particular, working with the tight ends when we get to an individual perspective."