The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a lot of notable players throughout their long and successful history. Many have gone on to become Hall of Famers, analysts, and even head coaches. Mike Vrabel is a former Steelers linebacker who had the goal to become a head coach after his retirement. He achieved that goal in 2018 when he was named the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, which is a title he no longer holds.
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Former Tennessee Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel throws his hands up in the air after disagreeing with a call during a game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN.
Pittsburgh selected Vrabel in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft with the 91st overall pick. He played with the Steelers for just four seasons, failing to ever start a game. He was a rotational linebacker that also contributed on special teams. After his rookie contract expired, he joined the New England Patriots, which is where he spent the majority of his career. One of his former players in Tennessee, Jeffery Simmons, was recently on The Rich Eisen Show. He discussed how Vrabel would change his coaching habits when preparing for one of his former teams.
"It's like every time we get to play somebody, like of course the Patriots, when Vrabel was there, the Steelers, you know of course it was the Steelers he played with -- everything was different leading into that game week. His mindset, the way he was, the intensity was up a little more."
Vrabel wanted to win against his former teams, especially against New England, as they were still coached by his former head coach, Bill Belichick, during Vrabel's time with the Titans. He probably looks back on his time with the Patriots a little more fondly, as he won three Super Bowls there and had the best season of his career with the organization in 2007.
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Former Steelers linebacker Mike Vrabel during a game in the 2000 season against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Vrabel's time in Pittsburgh was a little different. He never had the opportunity to be a starter, and he wasn't re-signed after his rookie deal expired following the 2000 season. There may have been a bit of extra motivation from Vrabel in regards to the Steelers organization when preparing to coach his team as they went up against Pittsburgh.
Throughout Vrabel's six seasons as the head coach of the Titans, he played the Steelers and Mike Tomlin on three occasions. His differences in his coaching style when playing the Steelers didn't work, as he went 0-3 against the Steel City. He had losses to Tomlin in 2020, 2021, and 2023.
The most notable matchup between the Steelers and the Titans while Vrabel was the head coach came in Week 7 of the 2020 NFL season. Both teams went into the matchup undefeated, but Pittsburgh prevailed by a score of 27-24. Vrabel was dismissed as the head coach of the Titans after the 2023 season, and is expected to get another opportunity as a head coach in the future.
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Mike Vrabel during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) with the Cleveland Browns.
Steelers Will Now Face Vrabel Twice In 2024
Surprisingly, Vrabel was unable to land one of the head coaching vacancies during the 2024 cycle. He decided to take a lesser role with the Cleveland Browns, where he is a coaching and personnel consultant. He probably won't be in this position for long, as he is way too qualified to take on such a small role with an organization.
On the bright side for Vrabel, he now has the opportunity to prepare his team for two matchups with the Steelers in 2024. Pittsburgh is set to take on the Browns two times in three weeks, as they play Cleveland in Week 12 and Week 14 in 2024. These will be pivotal games, as the entire AFC North is expected to be in the playoff conversation at that point in the year.
Hopefully Vrabel's bad luck as a coach against the Steelers continues, as Pittsburgh has been unable to sweep the Browns since the 2021 season.
What do you think of Vrabel cranking up the intensity when preparing his team for Pittsburgh? Comment below.
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