4 top candidates for the Tennessee Titans head coaching job
The Tennessee Titans fired head coach Mike Vrabel on Tuesday after six seasons with the team. While rumors regarding Vrabel’s future with the organization had been floating around for months, many fans across the league were shocked at the move.
Under Vrabel, the Titans went 54-45, including three consecutive playoff appearances from 2019-2021. There is little doubt that Vrabel will find another head coaching job. Where the Titans go from here, however, remains to be determined. Here are four of the top candidates for the Tennessee Titans job.
Many have called Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel the next Kyle Shanahan. If that’s true, it might be time for McDaniel to start his own coaching tree. Offensive coordinator Frank Smith spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago Bears, and New Orleans Saints before joining the Dolphins in 2022.
Given McDaniel’s role in the offensive play calling and game planning, it is harder to evaluate Smith’s coaching prowess. He will have more riding on his interviews than other, more established candidates. However, having his name attached to Miami’s innovative offense should be enough to get him some serious interest.
As great as Tyreek Hill is, there’s much more to the Dolphins’ offense than just having fast players; their unique spin on pre-snap motion has already trickled down to other teams. Smith’s experience with McDaniel could help him build a high-powered offense in Tennessee.
Mike Macdonald
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Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator
One might think the Titans are prioritizing offensive-minded coaches, but Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald could be an exception to the rule. In just two years, he has become one of the most respected defensive coordinators in the league. Macdonald’s work with this Baltimore defense is a compelling pitch.
Bobby Slowik
Houston Texans offensive coordinator
The Houston Texans have been the surprise team of the 2023 season, going from three wins a year ago to the AFC South Title. As a division foe, the Titans had a front-row seat to the team’s meteoric rise.
Houston is an enviable position. They have depth, youth, and coaching. Not all of this can be replicated, but if the team wants to construct a similar offense to the one that made C.J. Stroud the likely rookie of the year, they don’t have to look any further than Bobby Slowik.
Ben Johnson
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator
Firing Vrabel would postulate that the Titans want to go in a new direction. This means looking for candidates with different archetypes from their former head coach. Someone who fits this description is Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
Other names to watch
Candidates with similar backgrounds to Vrabel could still warrant consideration
This is shaping up to be one of the strongest classes of head coaching candidates in recent memory. There are numerous options for every team looking to fill a vacancy.
In the case of the Titans, some names make more sense than others. It’s important to remember that Vrabel was a successful coach in Tennessee. It would make little sense to fire Vrabel and then bring in someone with a similar background to be his successor.
