Titans Officially Hire Mike Vrabel
It’s officially official now. In a Monday press conference, the Titans introduced new head coach Mike Vrabel to the local media. 
Vrabel is now the 19th head coach in franchise history and the fourth since 2011. He signed a five-year deal with the team, a significantly longer commitment than the organization gave to predecessor Mike Mularkey.
Vrabel met with team general manager Jon Robinson and instantly hit it off, according to Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk.
“You could see their connection right away from the history they have with one another – seeing the game in a similar way and talking the same language. Mike has a commanding presence and a deep knowledge for how he will attack this head coaching opportunity,” Strunk said in a statement issued over the weekend.
Vrabel, 42, served one season as Houston’s defensive coordinator after beginning his NFL coaching career as a linebackers coach with the Texans for three seasons. The 14-year NFL veteran won three Super Bowls as a player, spending the majority of his career in New England. He earned one Pro Bowl and one First Team All-Pro selection (2007).
Despite being highly thought of around the league, Vrabel’s first season as defensive coordinator did not jump off the page. Houston’s defense finished last in points allowed, middle of the pack in yards, and in the bottom ten in sacks.
At the outset of the search, Robinson made it clear he wanted a “leader of men.” Some believed that Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was that guy, but Vrabel wowed Robinson in their meeting on Wednesday and the team never met with McDaniels. The team also interviewed Rams offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, and Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
Micah Powell contributed to this post.
Titans Moving On From Dick LeBeau
The Titans are moving on from defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, according to longtime beat reporter Paul Kuharsky. Although LeBeau is widely respected across the league, new head coach Mike Vrabel is looking to bring in his own staff. 
LeBeau first joined the Titans’ staff in 2015. In his his second season, he took over play calling when Mike Mularkey became the head coach. Things were trending up for the Titans D as they were 20th in yards allowed in 2016 but improved to 13th in 2017.
LeBeau, the innovator of the zone blitz, previously indicated that he would retire if the new Tennessee head coach did not keep him on staff. After all, given all of his accomplishments, there’s little left for LeBeau to prove. The octogenarian has coached in the NFL since the early 70s and he owns two Super Bowl rings thanks to his time as the Steelers’ DC. In 2010, LeBeau was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The Titans’ search for a new DC will start immediately, though it’s not immediately clear whether Vrabel will cede play-calling responsibilities.
Updated 2018 NFL Draft Order
With the conference championship games in the books, we now know the draft order for 30 of the first round’s 32 picks. Here’s the rundown:
1. Cleveland Browns (0-16)
2. New York Giants (3-13)
3. Indianapolis Colts (4-12)
4. Cleveland Browns (via the 4-12 Houston Texans)
5. Denver Broncos (5-11)
6. New York Jets (5-11)
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11)
8. Chicago Bears (5-11)
T-9. Oakland Raiders (6-10)
T-9. San Francisco 49ers (6-10) (Note: The Raiders and 49ers have identical records and the same strength of schedule. The tie will be broken by a coin flip with the winner getting pick No. 9 and the other club receiving the No. 10 pick.)
11. Miami Dolphins (6-10)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9)
13. Washington Redskins (7-9)
14. Green Bay Packers (7-9)
15. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
16. Baltimore Ravens (9-7)
17. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7)
18. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
19. Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
20. Detroit Lions (9-7)
21. Buffalo Bills (9-7)
22. Buffalo Bills (via the 10-6 Kansas City Chiefs)
23. Los Angeles Rams (11-5)
24. Carolina Panthers (11-5)
25. Tennessee Titans (9-7)
26. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
27. New Orleans Saints (11-5)
28. Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3)
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6)
30. Minnesota Vikings (13-3)
31. (New England Patriots (13-3) or Philadelphia Eagles (13-3))
32. (New England Patriots (13-3) or Philadelphia Eagles (13-3))
Titans Interested In Brian Callahan
- Ohio State co-offensive coordinator Ryan Day is reportedly new Titans head coach Mike Vrabel‘s top choice to become Tennessee’s next OC, but Vrabel also has interest in Lions quarterbacks coach Brian Callahan, tweets Paul Kuharsky of PaulKuharsky.com. Callahan has drawn coordinator interest around the league before, and could also be on the Jets’ radar as they seek to fill their OC vacancy. However, Detroit and new head coach Matt Patricia want to keep Callahan in place with the Lions.
Mike Vrabel Receives Five-Year Deal
- Mike Vrabel‘s Titans deal is a five-year agreement, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). This is a noticeably bigger commitment to a first-time HC than the franchise made to Mike Mularkey, who was then set for his third go-round as a head coach. Mularkey received a three-year commitment in 2016.
- Josh McDaniels was only seriously interested in the Colts and Giants‘ jobs, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe notes, adding that the Titans could have had a shot at the Patriots’ OC had they fired Mularkey late in what was an inconsistent regular season. McDaniels and Jon Robinson worked together in New England.
- The Titans will lose wide receivers coach Frisman Jackson to the college ranks. Jackson served as Tennessee’s wideouts coach for just one season, and he’ll take over the same job at Baylor, Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com reports. The former NFL wideout was a college receivers coach from 2008-16.
Ryan Day To Become Titans’ Next OC?
Ryan Day could be set for a prestige rise now that Mike Vrabel has become the new Titans head coach. The Ohio State co-offensive coordinator looks to be the frontrunner for Tennessee’s OC job.
Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter) Day is considering taking the job. The 39-year-old Day has been in his position with the Buckeyes for one year, with quarterbacks-coaching stints with the Eagles (2015) and 49ers (’16) coming in the years prior. Day is the first candidate mentioned for this job.
Day’s two NFL coaching stints came under Chip Kelly, making the connection to the Titans notable because of former Kelly pupil Marcus Mariota. Although Day did not coach Mariota at Oregon, serving as OC at Temple and Boston College prior to joining Kelly’s final Eagles staff, he knows the system in which Mariota thrived en route to a Heisman Trophy.
Day coached Sam Bradford and Colin Kaepernick as starters the past two seasons, and the latter showed improvement compared to his 2015 work. Though the 2016 49ers went 2-14 to lead to Kelly’s ouster, Kaepernick threw 16 touchdown passes compared to four interceptions — this following a six-touchdown, five-interception year in an injury-abbreviated 2015.
However, Day has not been tasked with being the point man for an NFL offense yet. The co-pilot for the J.T. Barrett-fronted attack in 2017, alongside Kevin Wilson and under offensive-minded Urban Meyer, Day served under Kelly and his respective OCs while in the NFL. In Tennessee, he’d be the main offensive mind for a team that made Mariota’s development a central theme in its hiring process.
Jon Robinson made this a point of emphasis at his press conference announcing the franchise was parting ways with Mike Mularkey, and with Vrabel’s background obviously being on defense, Day would make a notable jump in responsibility should the Titans go ahead with this hire.
Titans Hire Mike Vrabel As Head Coach
Less than a week after the departure of Mike Mularkey, the Titans have found his replacement in Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel, the team announced Saturday. 
The former Patriots linebacker is set to be introduced at a press conference on Monday. Terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed. Vrabel becomes the 19th head coach in franchise history and the fourth since 2011.
Vrabel met with team general manager Jon Robinson and instantly hit it off, according to Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk. “You could see their connection right away from the history they have with one another – seeing the game in a similar way and talking the same language. Mike has a commanding presence and a deep knowledge for how he will attack this head coaching opportunity,” she said.
The chemistry should come as no surprise, as both were members of the Patriots organization –Vrabel as a player and Robinson as a scout.
“This is an incredible opportunity and one I have been preparing for my entire football life,” Vrabel said. “I am excited to get to work & that work starts now. Everything we do is going to be geared towards winning & being physical.”
Vrabel, 42, served one season as Houston’s defensive coordinator after beginning his NFL coaching career as a linebackers coach with the Texans for three seasons. The 14-year NFL veteran won three Super Bowls as a player, spending the majority of his career in New England. He earned one Pro Bowl and one First Team All-Pro selection (2007).
Despite being highly thought of around the league, Vrabel’s first season as defensive coordinator did not jump off the page. Houston’s defense finished last in points allowed, middle of the pack in yards and in the bottom 10 in sacks.
At the outset of the search, Robinson made it clear he wanted a “leader of men.” It was thought Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was that leader, but Vrabel wowed Robinson in their meeting on Wednesday and the team never met with McDaniels. The team also interviewed Rams offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, and Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/19/18
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2018 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Arizona Cardinals
- LB Praise Martin-Oguike
Oakland Raiders
- LS Andrew East
Pittsburgh Steelers
- S Malik Golden
- LB Darnell Leslie
- P Matt Wile
Tennessee Titans
- QB Tyler Ferguson
Washington Redskins
Titans Interview Matt LaFleur
The Titans have announced that they have finished their interview today with Rams offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur. The sides had to push back the scheduled meeting a day because of weather-related issues, but LaFleur has now completed his first interview for a head coaching role.
LaFleur is young for a potential head coach at just 38 years old. He also is inexperienced as an offensive coordinator having served just one season under Sean McVay in Los Angeles. In his favor, LaFleur does have a tremendous track record as a quarterbacks coach, most recently helping to guide Matt Ryan through an MVP campaign just a year ago.
The Titans and former head coach Mike Mularkey parted ways because of the team’s wish to get the right guy for Marcus Mariota‘s development moving forward. LaFleur seems to fit the bill with what the front office is looking for.
With that said, Tennessee is still considering candidates of many background, including Mike Vrabel (HOU DC), Steve Wilks (CAR DC) and Frank Reich (Eagles OC). Just Wilks and Vrabel have been interviewed along with LaFleur.
Looking At The Titans' Draft
- Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com looked back at the Titans‘ 2017 draft class. The group starts with No. 5 overall pick Corey Davis, who had a two-touchdown game in the playoff loss to the Patriots. Davis missed a good chunk of time in ’17, but Wyatt believes his confidence boost will help him going into the offseason. Meanwhile, Wyatt wonders what the rest of the WR group will look like around him since both Eric Decker and Harry Douglas are scheduled for free agency in March.