Steelers Could Seek A Reunion With Mike Vrabel After He Wasn't Selected In Head Coaching Hiring Cycle

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a controversial move in hiring Arthur Smith as their new offensive coordinator during the 2024 offseason, and he shouldn't be the only former Tennessee Titans coach the Steelers bring in. Mike Vrabel, who was the head coach of the Titans from 2018 through 2023, won't be a head coach anywhere in the NFL in 2024. Vrabel has an impressive history as a defensive coach, and would certainly be an asset to the Steelers organization in any role should they decide to entertain bringing him into the fold. 

Steelers Should Entertain Adding Vrabel To The Coaching Staff

Vrabel was surprisingly fired from the Titans following the 2023 season, where his team went 6-11. One of their six wins came in Week 18 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, which helped put the Steelers in the playoffs. At the start of the hiring cycle, many were certain Vrabel would find a new home as a head coach, but as jobs began to get filled, his chances of gaining employment as a head coach got dimmer and dimmer. When the Washington Commanders hired Dan Quinn as their new head coach on Thursday, it became official that all head coaching vacancies were filled while Vrabel is still unemployed. 

It's unclear what Vrabel plans to do for the 2024 season. He could certainly take the year off while he awaits the next hiring cycle in 2025, or he could take a job on a team's defensive coaching staff. He could even join the staff at Ohio State where he played his college ball. If Vrabel desires to coach in the NFL in 2024 however, the Steelers should be making some calls. They could use another defensive coach that specializes in the front seven to help draw up blitz packages and stunts. 

The Steelers have a history of hiring former head coaches on their defensive staff, which they most recently did in 2022 when they brought in Brian Flores as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach. Flores left the team after one season and joined the Minnesota Vikings as their defensive coordinator. 

What Kind Of Role Could Vrabel Take On In Pittsburgh?

The Steelers do not have any glaring defensive coaching staff vacancies currently, but they could always add assistants with a good amount of experience. Vrabel should be offered a role similar to what Flores had as a senior defensive assistant. The Steelers also went without an assistant head coach during the 2023 season, after their Assistant Head Coach John Mitchell retired in 2022 after 16 seasons. It could be interesting to have Vrabel fill that vacancy while taking on a role on the defensive staff. 

Vrabel may have been fired in Tennessee, but he was a good coach. His record as a head coach is 54-45, and he had a winning record during his first four seasons in Tennessee. During his tenure, he also brought them to an AFC Championship Game in 2019, and secured the one seed in the AFC in 2020. He is more than qualified to take on a defensive assistant role in Pittsburgh. 

Bringing Vrabel to Pittsburgh could only benefit the Steelers, and he also has coaching experience with the team's new offensive coordinator. Smith coached under Vrabel for three seasons in Tennessee. During Vrabel's first year as head coach, Smith was the tight ends coach. When the Titans lost Offensive Coordinator Matt LaFleur to a head coaching job with the Green Bay Packers in 2019, Vrabel promoted Smith to offensive coordinator. 

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin spoke about being open to the idea of changing his defensive staff during his end-of-year press conference, and Vrabel is the perfect candidate to bring in. Not only does he have a litany of quality years of experience, but he also is a great defensive mind that could improve the defense. His time with Smith will make the transition to a new organization easier on Smith as well. Also, Vrabel knows all about the Steelers culture as he played in Pittsburgh from 1997 through 2000.