Former Tennessee Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel Dies at 49
— Former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel has died, the team confirmed early Tuesday morning. He was 49.
The news of Vrabel’s passing has sent shockwaves across the NFL community and beyond, as players, coaches, and fans pay tribute to a man widely respected for his leadership, intensity, and deep passion for the game of football.
“It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Mike Vrabel, a beloved member of the Titans family,” the Tennessee Titans said in an official statement. “Mike was more than a coach — he was a mentor, a friend, and a fierce competitor who brought out the best in those around him. Our hearts are with his wife, Jen, and their sons Tyler and Carter during this incredibly difficult time.”
The cause of death has not yet been officially disclosed. According to sources close to the family, Vrabel passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by loved ones.
Mike Vrabel, a former NFL linebacker who won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, transitioned into coaching in 2011. After rising through the coaching ranks with Ohio State and the Houston Texans, Vrabel took the reins as head coach of the Titans in 2018.
In his six-season tenure with the Titans, Vrabel compiled a 54–45 regular season record and led the team to four consecutive winning seasons from 2019 to 2022. Under his leadership, the Titans reached the AFC Championship Game in 2019, falling just short of a Super Bowl appearance. He was named the NFL Coach of the Year in 2021 after guiding Tennessee to a 12–5 record and the top seed in the AFC despite major injuries to key players.
Vrabel was known for his hard-nosed, no-nonsense coaching style, a reflection of his playing days. Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 260 pounds during his playing career, Vrabel was a force on the field — recording over 700 tackles and 57 sacks in 14 seasons with the Steelers, Patriots, and Chiefs.
Colleagues and former players were quick to express their grief and gratitude on social media.
“Mike Vrabel was the definition of a leader,” said Titans running back Derrick Henry. “He pushed us every single day to be our best. This one hurts.”
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who coached Vrabel during his time in New England, called the news “devastating.”
“Mike was one of the smartest and toughest players I ever coached,” Belichick said. “He brought that same energy and brilliance to coaching. He was a winner in every sense.”
Vrabel is survived by his wife Jennifer and their two sons, Tyler — who plays offensive line in the NFL — and Carter, a college baseball player.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
As the football world mourns the loss of Mike Vrabel, many remember him not just as a champion on the field, but as a man who lived and breathed the game — and who inspired countless others to do the same.
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