Patriots Hall of Fame Induction Prompted Titans' Vrabel Firing?
Did freshly fired Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel rub his former franchise's owner, Amy Adams Strunk, the wrong way when he returned to Foxboro to be inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame this season?
Yes, according to the newest report to come out following Vrabel's firing by the Titans on Tuesday, as the now potential candidate to become the next Patriots' coach may have involuntarily gotten himself into hot water in Tennessee.
“This was Amy Adams Strunk making the decision based on a lot of things,” NFL insider Ian Rapoport said about how Vrabel's conduct potentially impacted the Titans' decision. “Including what happened when he went to New England for the Hall of Fame thing, Including not dispelling rumors, in-house, that he was going to be Patriots coach. There was a lot there.”
Oct 21, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots former linebacker and current Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel makes a speech at his 2023 Patriots Hall of Fame induction in the Cross Insurance Pavilion at Gillette Stadium.
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Before coaching, Vrabel made his name as an outside linebacker for the Patriots from 2001-08, where he totaled 606 tackles, 55 for a loss, 48 sacks, 33 quarterback hits, 11 interceptions, and five fumble recoveries in Foxboro.
Despite starting his NFL career as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Vrabel made his name in Foxboro, where he helped the Patriots win three Super Bowls while earning himself individual accolades like becoming a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler.
That led to him returning to New England for the Patriots' Week 5 game against the Buffalo Bills. For the first time, Vrabel was not in attendance as the opposing coach but rather a former player enjoying his induction ceremony when he even gave a speech at halftime.
During his speech, Vrabel's specific comment about Foxboro and the Patriots organization being unlike anywhere else could have struck the Titans the wrong way.
“I don’t want you to take this organization for granted,” Vrabel said in his speech. “I’ve been a lot of places, this is a special place with great leadership, great fans, great direction, and great coaching. Enjoy it, it’s not like this everywhere.”
Considering the fact that aside from his time in New England as a player, Vrabel has only been with four NFL teams, combining both of his careers, it is easy to assume that the Titans and, specifically, their owner could have taken issue with that comment.
As for Rapoport's report that they also took issue with Vrabel not coming out to deny rumors of him succeeding Bill Belichick as coach in New England, the firing by the Titans has conveniently made it easier for the 48-year-old.
However, as things currently stand, it is business as usual for the Patriots with Belichick still under contract; as he reminded the media on Monday,
