The Seattle Seahawks and the Tennessee Titans, both non-playoff teams in the NFL this year, made unexpected moves that caught many by surprise. The Seahawks decided to reassign Pete Carroll to a different role within their organization, while the Titans fired their head coach, Mike Vrabel. These were two highly regarded coaches in the league, and there were no prior indications of them being let go. However, upon evaluating their teams and future prospects, the Seahawks and Titans made the surprising decisions.
Carroll’s new role within the organization leaves uncertainty about his future as an NFL coach, especially considering he was the oldest head coach in the league at 72 before being relieved of his coaching duties. On the other hand, there were rumors of the New England Patriots potentially trading for Vrabel, with Bill Belichick’s departure looming. However, the Titans were determined to appoint Jerod Mayo as their new head coach, and Vrabel found himself without an immediate opportunity.
Recently, a report by Dianna Russini of The Athletic shed light on why Vrabel faced difficulties in securing a new head coaching position in the NFL. According to the report, people were supposedly intimidated by Vrabel’s physical stature, which hindered his prospects. Russini discussed this on The Athletic Football Show, where she mentioned that Vrabel’s style didn’t align with what potential owners were seeking in a head coach. This revelation has sparked various reactions from fans.
Several fans expressed disbelief at the notion that Vrabel’s physical presence could be a determining factor in his job prospects. They found it hard to accept that such a reason would prevent him from being hired as a head coach. Others pointed out the physical measurements of other coaches, such as Dan Campbell, who are similar to Vrabel, suggesting that other front offices were not as easily intimidated. Some even criticized those executives who held such beliefs, implying that they lacked resilience.
If this report is indeed accurate and Vrabel’s intimidating presence was a genuine concern for teams during interviews, it seems like a feeble excuse for not hiring one of the top head coaches in the game today. In fact, Vrabel may have avoided a problematic situation by not being selected by teams that were intimidated by him. It is clear that his coaching abilities should be the primary focus, rather than any superficial factors.