Former Ohio State linebacker and assistant coach Mike Vrabel, who was fired from the Tennessee Titans in January, will be returning to his home state, as several reports on Friday indicated that he is joining the Cleveland Browns as a coaching and personnel consultant.
Vrabel, who was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2021, was fired after six seasons in Tennessee and a 54-45 overall record with three playoff appearances, though the Titans combined for just a 13-22 record over the past two seasons. While Vrabel interviewed with several teams this offseason following his firing by Tennessee, including the Los Angeles Chargers, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, he was not able to land any of the available head coaching positions that have since been filled.
Before taking on the head coaching position in Tennessee, has was an assistant coach with the Houston Texans from 2014-17 and at Ohio State from 2011-13, kept on as an assistant by new head coach Urban Meyer. At Ohio State, Vrabel was a consensus All-American in 1996 and two-time Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year from 1995-96.
He got into coaching after an extensive career in the NFL that spanned 14 seasons and three teams, including a run from 2001-2008 with the New England Patriots in which he won three Super Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2007, and was later inducted into the Patriots’ Hall of Fame.