Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has worked with Mike Vrabel once before with the Tennessee Titans in 2018 as his offensive coordinator before becoming Green Bay’s head coach. Tennessee went 9-7 that season and that was Vrabel’s first season with the Titans.
On Tuesday, shock waves were sent across the NFL that Tennessee fired Mike Vrabel as head coach and they wanted to make a change. The Titans missed the playoffs the last two seasons and finished with a 6-11 record this season.
In six seasons as the Tennessee Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel was the coach of the year, was a number one seed in the AFC in 2021 with Ryan Tannehill as his quarterback and massive injuries, and is also well respected by players.
His record as head coach with Tennessee was 54-45. Vrabel was also the sixth seed in 2019 with Tennessee. They upset the top seed Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens that year in the playoffs before losing to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
Vrabel will be one of the hot names as a head coaching candidate. Another name along with him that will be on the market possibly is Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh, who just went 15-0 and won the National Title against the Washington Huskies.
Six teams currently have head coach openings and they are the Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, and Tennessee Titans.
If Mike Vrabel for some reason didn’t get hired as a head coach because he is too defensive-minded and not offensive-minded enough, can a reunion with Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers be in the works for next season?
A Mike Vrabel and Matt LaFleur Reunion Could Happen With the Green Bay Packers But Don’t Count On It
There are a couple of reasons why a LaFleur and Vrabel reunion may not happen next season with the Packers. Would Mike Vrabel want a demotion to defensive coordinator rather than leading a team somewhere else? Also, who is saying that LaFleur would also fire his buddy Joe Barry?
Matt LaFleur has stuck up for him time and time again this season. Green Bay made it to the playoffs this season and Barry was better over the last couple of weeks for better or for worse. It is all going to depend on what happens against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
If Green Bay gives up over 40 points, then Barry might be shown the door. Mike Vrabel would be a tough defensive mind as a defensive coordinator. Players love playing for him and players like Quay Walker and Rashan Gary would reach another level. Another player that could benefit from Vrabel is Lukas Van Ness. This is a situation worth monitoring over the next few weeks, but this feels more of a pipe dream than a reality also.
