Report: Mike Vrabel’s Physical Presence Could’ve Hurt His NFL Coaching Prospects

A report from the Athletic offers an interesting reason why former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel got shut out of the 2024 NFL coaching hiring cycle. The report suggests Vrabel's physical presence might be too intimidating for some teams.

NASHVILLE — Economists believe that some companies are so crucial to the economy that they're too big to be allowed to fail. A report suggests that former Titans coach Mike Vrabel may have been excluded from the 2024 NFL hiring cycle due to a unique application of this economic principle.

Athletic reporter Dianna Russini said an NFL general manager told her at the Senior Bowl in Mobile that Vrabel's physical presence might be too intimidating for staffers inside an organization.  

Vrabel played 14 seasons in the NFL, and according to Pro Football Reference, he was 6'4" and weighed 261 pounds during his playing career. He coached the Titans for six seasons before getting fired in January after three playoff trips and two consecutive losing seasons.

Many observers thought he'd get one of the seven coaching jobs besides the Titans, but he was shut out. 

"I had a GM at the Senior Bowl who mentioned to me Vrabel's physical build," Russini said on The Athletic Football Show. "That he's a very large human being. And can be very intimidating to people in an organization that are going to be part of these decisions. And that is a factor."

Russini was initially incredulous about the comment regarding the coach's 54-45 record, three playoff appearances, an AFC title game, and a Coach of the Year award. However, the unnamed GM pushed back. 

"I'm just telling you, I've been in rooms. And somebody's physical presence can make a difference."

Vrabel had interviews with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Los Angeles Chargers, but those jobs went to other candidates. Lots of observers assumed Vrabel would get another gig since his teams made the playoffs three consecutive years, including an AFC Championship Game loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City.

"I don't think there was a fit for him," Russini said. "I don't think he sat in front of any owner who thought that his style was going to work for what they were looking for…"

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