NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans kicked off their search for a new head coach by interviewing Houston defensive co-ordinator Mike Vrabel.
The Titans announced they concluded the interview early Thursday afternoon.
Tennessee is looking to replace Mike Mularkey, fired Monday after he went 21-22 and won the franchise’s first playoff game in 14 years.
Vrabel, 42, has never been a head coach at any level. He is coming off his first season as defensive co-ordinator for the Texans. Vrabel played 14 years in the NFL with Pittsburgh, New England where he won three Super Bowl titles and Kansas City before going into coaching. He started coaching in 2011 at his alma mater, Ohio State. He coached linebackers and defensive linemen.
Vrabel went to Houston in 2014 and coached linebackers with the Texans for three seasons before becoming co-ordinator . The Texans won the AFC South in 2015 and 2016 thanks to strong defences. The unit slipped this season with the Texans’ defence decimated by injuries to players including J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus.
General manager Jon Robinson gave little indication Monday of what he’s looking for in the man who will be the Titans’ fourth head coach eight seasons and third in quarterback Marcus Mariota’s fourth season.
"Leader of men," Robinson said of what he wants in a new head coach. "Obviously, the things that are stamped out there on those pillars, team-first, detailed, tough, dependable. One that’s going to, like I said, maximize the abilities of the players in all three phases of the game."
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