NFL Trade Rumors: Mike Vrabel to Interview With Chicago Bears

A lot can change in a year. According to the Boston Herald's Doug Kyed, Cleveland Browns coaching and personnel assistant Mike Vrabel will interview with the Chicago Bears this week regarding their head coaching vacancy.

The Bears will interview former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel tomorrow, per source.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) January 7, 2025

Vrabel served six seasons as head coach of the Tennessee Titans before being fired last year. He amassed a 54-45 record and three playoff appearances with a punishing brand of football that relied heavily on running back Derrick Henry and a capable defense.

Vrabel appears to be in high demand despite failing to secure a head coaching job last offseason. He didn't exactly cover himself in glory with the Browns this year: They finished with a league-worst 3-14 record. Still, he reportedly also has interviews lined up with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints.

Vrabel is a stabilizing presence and culture-setter who would be a good fit for a team that's looking for consistency. As a hard-nosed, versatile linebacker and occasional tight end, Vrabel won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. Over a storied NFL career, he played in 206 games for three different teams, amassing 57.0 sacks, 762 tackles, and 10 receiving touchdowns. His vast experience in all phases of football could be a significant asset to a team in search of an identity.

Ultimately, Vrabel would be a safe, if uninspiring, choice for the Bears. His Titans teams may have been competitive, but they rarely flirted with true greatness, and he has a poor track record developing young quarterbacks. What little success the Titans had under Vrabel came with veteran acquisition Ryan Tannehill throwing as few passes as possible; draft picks Marcus Mariota and Will Levis floundered in their limited action.

Above all else, the Bears must prioritize positioning quarterback Caleb Williams for success with their next head coach. The first-overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft disappointed in his rookie season, netting 4.88 yards per dropback and absorbing an NFL-high 68 sacks. Vrabel is a good coach, but he's simply not the ideal choice for the Bears if they want to ensure Williams fulfills his potential. They would be better off finding someone with a history of fielding quarterback-friendly systems, like Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson or Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen.