Mike Vrabel Would be an Excellent Defensive Coordinator Hire for the 49ers
Four coaches have been interviewed by the San Francisco 49ers for their vacant defensive coordinator position. Since it is apparent the 49ers are in no rush to make a hire, they should look to add one more candidate to interview.
One coach that the 49ers should look to interview for defensive coordinator is former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. Vrabel would be an excellent hire at defensive coordinator for the 49ers. He checks the first box of having a linebacker background, which is something that Kyle Shanahan noted as one of the factors that didn't work out for former coordinator Steve Wilks.
"I just think it has to do with the way we play linebacker and stuff like that," said Shanahan. "And the way that Fred and Dre have done it here over the years and the way we've coached it. There's no one way to do things, but you want to tie things together. Steve was always working to do that. There's no doubt about that. But it was just for his background and how it ended up with us, it was just, it was harder than it needed to be. I felt it would improve us going in a different direction.”
Clearly, being a former player at linebacker will help tremendously. The 49ers have loads of respect for former players turned coaches. Another criticism of Wilks was that he called plays in the booth rather than on the sidelines. It was thought that his lack of energy being instilled in the players, as ridiculous as it was, hurt them. Well, Vrabel can certainly bring that to the defense if it truly was an issue to them.
One hurdle that Vrabel will need to overcome is the "outsider" perspective the players will have on him. That is truly why I believe Wilks had to come down to the sidelines. The players wanted him to conform since he is not one of them. A way Vrabel can overcome that is by advocating for the 49ers to reunite with linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. And I think the 49ers will oblige if they can free up the salary cap space.
The 49ers do need to add a linebacker next to Fred Warner with Dre Greenlaw on the mend from a torn Achilles. Bringing Al-Shaair will not only fill that need, but he can act as Vrabel's representative to the players. He can be that player to tell everyone that Vrabel is respectable. That way they don't give Vrabel that "outsider" perspective like they did with Wilks and the sideways comments during press conferences.
Lastly, Vrabel as head coach of the Titans has been able to put out solid game plans against Patrick Mahomes. He is 2-2 against Mahomes as a starter for the Kansas City Chiefs -- limiting them to 22.5 points per game. Now, that is a decent amount of points, but considering it is Mahomes and Andy Reid, it is actually outstanding to do so. Not to mention that one of those matchups, Vrabel had rookie Malik Willis in 2022 complete only five passes. He has a great idea on going against Mahomes and the Chiefs.
Interviewing Vrabel makes a lot of sense for the 49ers. If he is willing, then they must absolutely hear him out.
