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The Tennessee Titans surprisingly made the decision Tuesday to five Mike Vrabel as head coach, after going 54-45 in six seasons with two AFC South titles and three playoff appearances. Going 6-18 in his final 24 games, including finishing 7-10 after a 7-3 start in 2022, helped determine Vrabel’s fate in Tennessee — no matter the earlier success he had with the franchise.
Since the Titans made the controversial decision to fire Vrabel, the franchise is fully going through with their rebuild without the head coach who kept the organization stable. Tennessee is likely looking for an offensive head coach, one who’ll pick his own quarterback and shape the roster in his image.
The Titans didn’t take the last-place finish in the AFC South lightly, so they blew it up. Who are the best coach candidates available for Tennessee, given the direction the franchise is heading?
This list doesn’t include Bill Belichick or Jim Harbaugh, since the Titans appear to be going for a rebuild, a different direction that what those two are likely seeking for their next NFL head coaching opportunity (should they want one). All these candidates would be first-time head coaches.
5. Mike Macdonald
Age: 36Current role: Ravens defensive coordinator
Perhaps Vrabel having a defensive background forces the Titans to go in the opposite direction, but Macdonald is the top defensive coordinator available this hiring cycle. Macdonald was with the Ravens under Wink Martindale from 2014 through 2020 before serving as Michigan’s defensive coordinator in 2021.
Since Macdonald returned to Baltimore in 2022, the Ravens led the league in points allowed per game (16.5) and finished sixth in yards allowed per game (301.4). Baltimore led the NFL in points per possession allowed (1.35).
The Ravens have an elite defense under Macdonald, one of the bright defensive minds in the league.
