Browns' Mike Vrabel discusses being fired by Titans, coaching desires

After being unceremoniously fired by the Tennessee Titans this past winter, former Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel somewhat curiously joined the Cleveland Browns as a consultant in March.

Vrabel spoke with reporters on Tuesday about the events that resulted in the Ohio native landing in Cleveland ahead of the start of springtime workouts.

"(Getting fired), that’s part of the job," Vrabel said, per Zac Jackson of The Athletic. "I think it’s disappointing. I think you’re disappointed that you couldn’t do the job the way that they wanted it, or they envisioned it. But again, this is the opportunity that I think is best for me right now to be able to go through draft meetings, personnel meetings with (Browns general manager) Andrew Berry and his staff and see how that all got navigated and how they may do things."

Vrabel went 54-45 across six regular seasons with the Titans and won the Associated Press Coach of the Year Award for the 2021 campaign.

However, the Titans missed the playoffs during his final two seasons in charge, and he reportedly upset team controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk when he declined to strongly deny this past fall that he could possibly replace Bill Belichick as head coach of the New England Patriots.

The Patriots ultimately hired Jerod Mayo over Vrabel and other potential candidates.

Even before the Browns signed Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski to contract extensions last month, numerous insiders made it clear that Vrabel was no threat to Stefanski. That doesn't mean Vrabel isn't already thinking about returning to the sidelines as a head coach as soon as next year.

"Sure (I want to coach again) and at the right time, there’s a time and place for that," Vrabel added on Tuesday. "It’s not going to be anytime soon. So, I think things that I’ll ultimately learn here may help me the next time I get an opportunity to have one of those interviews. This is what I’m focused on, focused on doing that and learning here and helping. And then, you know, if those opportunities present themselves after the season, then I’ll absolutely try to do that."

As of late Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Browns at +145 betting odds to make the playoffs this season.

Vrabel helping Cleveland do more than return to the postseason following its wild-card loss to the Houston Texans this past January could erase doubts some front offices may have had about him as a head-coaching candidate following the 2023 campaign.