Former NFL Coach of the Year almost got the Los Angeles Chargers HC job instead of Jim Harbaugh

It's been a shift in culture for the Los Angeles Chargers during this offseason. Jim Harbaugh stepped in as head coach after Brandon Staley was fired from the role. That came as no surprise around the NFL.

A franchise's choice that did spark controversy? The Tennessee Titans firing Mike Vrabel after the 2023 season.

According to reports, the Chargers' front office brought Vrabel in for an interview just over a week after his departure from the Titans. He made an admission that opened some eyes on a recent podcast.

Mike Vrabel infers he was the runner-up to Jim Harbaugh for Chargers HC job

"Thought I had a great interview in L.A. for the Chargers, and Harbaugh decided to come back to the NFL, and that's what Mr. Spanos and John Spanos communicated with me, and I respect them for that. They literally called me on a speaker phone --and that rarely happens where if an owner is going to interview you and then go in a different direction that they'll personally call you.

And they were like, 'Second place isn't going to give you much, but wanted to tell you that we just had an opportunity to hire Jim Harbaugh. '" -- Vrabel via Pardon My Take

As for Vrabel, he enters the 2024 season as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns organization.

Don't be shocked if he gets more coaching interviews during the 2025 hiring cycle. Vrabel is very well-respected around the league. Vrabel was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2021 with Tennessee.

He spent six seasons with the Titans after an impressive tenure as the Houston Texans defensive coordinator.

One thing is clear regarding Los Angeles. They were shopping for a proven head coach after the Staley experiment blew up in their face. Harbaugh and Vrabel have both proven themselves as NFL minds and leaders.

There is plenty of hype surrounding Harbaugh as the Chargers head coach going forward. Let's see if he delivers.

Related: Why Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh's running game may actually improve Justin Herbert's stats in 2024