Mike Vrabel provides the Browns with more than his job as a consultant implies.
A top-tier coaching job hardly ever appears out of thin air. Candidates with a mile-long résumé are typically not on the market for long when it comes to NFL coaching interviews. The stunning revelation that Mike Vrabel had been brought on by the Cleveland Browns as a consultant to the coaching staff and personnel surfaced this past week.
The definition of a #FootballGuy. Don’t see many coaches donning the pads in warmups like Mike Vrabel. #JAXvsTEN pic.twitter.com/sVm7JZ3Gbz
— Shawn Kopelakis (@shawn_kopelakis) December 7, 2018
According to Ian Rapoport, Vrabel met with Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski at the Indianapolis combine a few weeks ago. This move has been in the works for some time. As “consultant” as Mike Vrabel may be, he still has a lot to offer this Browns club.
Although a consultant is one of the less precise coaching roles in the NFL, the Browns still have a clear and defined responsibility for Vrabel. Mike Vrabel’s role, according to Robert Mays of The Athletic, is “to act as a sounding board for Kevin Stefanski but also as a resource for a coaching staff with a lot of youth and turnover.”
Given that Cleveland has hired new coaches for various positions, including offensive coordinator, tight ends, defensive line, and offensive line, this makes a lot of sense. To ensure that the transfer goes as smoothly as possible, the Browns sought an experienced coaching presence.
Without a doubt, Vrabel has the strongest resume of any 48-year-old NFL coach. He started 140 games throughout his 14 seasons as an NFL player. His eight years as a New England Patriot, where he was an All-Pro in 2007 and a three-time Super Bowl champion, are what made him most famous.
Following the 2010 NFL season, Vrabel announced his retirement. He didn’t waste any time in seeking out a coaching position at Ohio State, his alma mater, where he spent three years coaching the defensive line before moving on to the linebackers. As NFL organizations began to notice his influence, the Houston Texans hired him in 2014 to train linebackers. After three years, he was elevated to the position of defensive coordinator. In spite of losing JJ Watt, his best player, after five games, Vrabel’s defense ranked third in the league in terms of the proportion of drives that resulted in a touchdown.
It would be an understatement to say that Tennesee took notice when they appointed Vrabel as their head coach in 2018. His player roster fared better than expected. He went to the playoffs three years in a row from 2019 to 2021, had a winning season his first four years as the Titans head coach, and even made it to the AFC Championship game. This was achieved in the absence of a legitimate franchise quarterback.
The definition of a #FootballGuy. Don’t see many coaches donning the pads in warmups like Mike Vrabel. #JAXvsTEN pic.twitter.com/sVm7JZ3Gbz
— Shawn Kopelakis (@shawn_kopelakis) December 7, 2018
So how did this wonderful coach get to be in this role?
Most people believe that the Titans’ demise was caused by general manager Jon Robinson of Tennessee trading wide receiver AJ Brown, their top offensive asset, in the 2022 offseason. Following two disappointing seasons, Ran Carthon, the new general manager, felt something had to change. Many believed that Vrabel would be hired as a head coach or coordinator of another team right away. Interestingly, Vrabel remained available for the whole of the coaching cycle.
How is that the case? Dianna Russini revealed that Vrabel, a 6-foot-4 former NFL player, may have intimidated a number of coaches and executives due to his size. He is strong enough to confront his players during practices and drills. Stefanski and Berry, who have repeatedly shown that they are genuinely an egoless front office and coaching staff determined to continually try to get better no matter the addition or deletion, had no trouble with this.
Ultimately, the squad will benefit from this addition to the coaching staff. Vrabel is incredibly knowledgeable; in fact, he hired defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz as a consultant and the two worked together for two years in Tennessee.
This was a move to add another excellent defensive mind to the facility, not to eventually replace Kevin Stefanski as head coach. Who’s to say Jim Schwartz doesn’t have offers to return as head coach following another fantastic season? And the next person in line to take over would be Vrabel.
All that is known is that the Browns acquired a fantastic addition to their coaching staff with this trade, and as a result, the team improved. Vrabel will drive the historic Browns defense to new heights with his enthusiasm, leadership, and willingness to work closely with his players.
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