Report expands on Mike Vrabel's roles as Browns consultant

There continue to be questions regarding what exactly former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel has been doing since he joined the Cleveland Browns as a consultant in March.

Browns reporter Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN offered some answers in a piece published on Tuesday.

"In his short time with the Browns, Vrabel has taken on myriad roles," Oyefusi wrote. "He's discussed personnel decisions with [Browns general manager Andrew Berry] and contributed to the pre-draft process, watching film and writing prospect evaluations. He's sat in on offensive meetings and provided his perspective as someone who has coached and played on the other side."

Vrabel won the Associated Press Coach of the Year Award for the 2021 season, went 54-45 across six campaigns as Tennessee head coach and was expected to be a hot head-coaching candidate after he was fired by the Titans this past January. Multiple teams went in different directions, however, and the 48-year-old Ohio native is now enjoying a bit of a career reset with the franchise he supported as a young fan.

"He's a very hands-on guy," Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku said about Vrabel "working extensively" with Browns players at that position during summer practices. "Very old-school guy. He finds ways to get not necessarily under my skin but he tries to get in my head. And then I get mad, and then we start going at it. He's a great old-fashioned coach."

While Cleveland's Kevin Stefanski officially became a two-time AP Coach of the Year Award winner in February, whispers emerged the following month about Vrabel possibly replacing Stefanski as soon as this coming January if the 2024 Browns fall short of the expectations many have for them heading into September. Vrabel recently acknowledged he wants to return to a head-coaching role sooner rather than later, but such an opportunity likely won't come from the Browns considering they signed Stefanski and Berry to contract extensions in June.

"The essence of coaching is trying to make a connection with players, to teach them and develop them, make them better than what they are when you begin working with them," Vrabel said about what he's offering the Browns during what may be a short-term marriage.

He seemingly hopes such connections will help him improve as an overall leader before he lands a future interview for a head-coaching job.