Titans Hire Mike Vrabel as New Head Coach

Mike Vrabel was hired as the Titans' new head coach.

Mike Vrabel was hired as the Tennessee Titans' new head coach, the team announced Saturday. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports the Titans are giving Vrabel a five-year contract. 

Vrabel served as the defensive coordinator with the Houston Texans last season. The Texans' defensive coordinator job will go to assistant head coach Romeo Crennel, NFL.com reports.

Vrabel, 42, was one of three candidates interviewed for the job.

The new head coach of the Tennessee Titans is Mike Vrabel. #TitanUp

Leader of Men 📰 » https://t.co/mE5I53cZs8 pic.twitter.com/P9WuvJ7Kol

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 20, 2018

“This is an incredible opportunity & one I have been preparing for my entire football life. I am excited to get to work & that work starts now. Everything we do is going to be geared towards winning & being physical." - @CoachVrabel50

Leader of Men 📰 » https://t.co/mE5I53cZs8 pic.twitter.com/FoAIRZjLge

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 20, 2018

In 14 seasons in the NFL, Vrabel played for the Patriots, Steelers and Chiefs. Before heading to Houston, he coached the defensive line at Ohio State, his alma mater.

Head coach Mike Mularkey and the Titans mutually agreed to part ways this week despite contract extension talks.

Mularkey went 21–22 in his three seasons as the Titans' head coach. Tennessee is coming off back-to-back years in which it finished with a 9–7 regular season record.

This year, the Titans clinched their first playoff berth for the first time in nine years — a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Wild Card Game was their first postseason victory in 14 years.

The Titans' season came to an end on Sunday with a 35–14 loss to the New England Patriots in the divisional round.