Mike Vrabel, former Ohio State player and coach, fired by Titans. Could he succeed Ryan Day?

COLUMBUS, Ohio — One of the most respected Ohio State football alums in coaching is back on the job market as of Tuesday.

The Tennessee Titans fired Mike Vrabel after six seasons. The first four all featured winning seasons, with two AFC South titles and an appearance in the 2019 AFC Championship Game.

However, the Titans went 7-10 and 6-11 the past two seasons, finishing last in the division this season. Tennessee has not won a playoff game since that 2019 run. It was the top seed in the 2021 playoffs and lost at home to the Bengals in the divisional round.

The Titans also started 7-3 in 2022, then lost seven straight and 18 of 24 since. Injuries to starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill and inconsistent play from rookie Will Levis as his replacement were contributing factors.

Vrabel starred as a defensive end for the Buckeyes from 1993-96 before a long NFL career with the Steelers, Patriots and Chiefs. He started his coaching career at OSU as linebackers and defensive line coach before transitioning to the NFL.

Due to that early NFL success, Vrabel has long been a popular speculative name for OSU fans should the head coach position open up. A November 2022 column by The Athletic’s Joe Rexrode said Vrabel wanted to hire Day as his offensive coordinator with the Titans in 2018. The same column also said Vrabel loved recruiting and that would not preclude him from taking a college job.

Day, though, is not leaving involuntarily prior to next season. Vrabel, too, may be scooped up by another NFL team as the coaching carousel continues in the coming weeks.