Now that the NFL head coaching carousel has reached its conclusion, with all eight vacancies having been filled, former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel somewhat surprisingly finds himself on the outside looking in. One of the reasons for that — which is patently absurd the more one thinks about it — was apparently due to his imposing physical appearance.
No, seriously. This is not a bizarre attempt at satire. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, this is a very real thing that's been making the rounds — less than two weeks after Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 265 pounds, led Detroit to two playoff wins and an appearance in the NFC Championship Game.
Here's what Russini had to say in an appearance on "The Athletic Football Show" podcast:
Dianna Russini asked about Mike Vrabel on The Athletic Football Show:
"I don't think there was a fit for him. I don't think he sat in front of any owner who thought that his style was going to work for what they were looking for...I had a GM at the Senior Bowl who mentioned?
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) February 5, 2024
The full quote on X went as follows:
"I don't think there was a fit for him. I don't think he sat in front of any owner who thought that his style was going to work for what they were looking for ... I had a GM at the Senior Bowl who mentioned to me Vrabel's physical build. That he's a very large human being. And can be very intimidating to people in an organization that are going to be part of these decisions. And that is a factor."
To back up for a moment, Mike Vrabel is a proven, respected coach and, as recently as 2021, was the NFL Head Coach of the Year. We're going to go ahead and assume that both prior to that honor and following that honor, not a single Titans executive ever feared being choke-slammed through a table over a disagreement in philosophy.
Anyway, Russini expanded further upon the initial quote above, and she said what most people would likely be thinking:
"I laughed, I said, 'Stop, that's not something that's real. Who cares what someone physically looks like?' And he said, 'I'm just telling you, I've been in rooms and somebody's physical presence can make a difference.'"
While anyone's physical appearance could have some kind of effect on how they may or may not be able to control the temperature of a room, the literal size of NFL head coaches as it equates to success ranges pretty far and wide. We can start with Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and literally climb the ladder all the way to the aforementioned Dan Campbell.
Vrabel coached the Tennessee Titans for six seasons and made the playoffs three times, including an appearance in the AFC Championship Game. He just so happens to stand 6-foot-4 and weigh 260-plus pounds. If that's what got in the way of even landing an interview with a team like the Washington Commanders — a franchise in desperate need of proven leadership and a true identity — that place is far worse off than anyone ever thought.
Russini echoed a similar notion during the same podcast appearance:
"I was surprised that the Commanders didn't even meet him, though, for an interview. Even just to learn. Because I think we can give him credit for having success in Tennessee. We keep talking about culture-building, identity ... even talking to players there [in Tennessee] since, I think they're still baffled by it because there's just so much respect for what he can do."
That last part, about players on the Titans being baffled by what's transpired, is the most telling aspect. Ultimately, any NFL organization — even one as inept as the Commanders — always wants a true buy-in from the 53-man roster, top to bottom. Yet we're out here discussing whether a general manager might be too fearful to share an opinion with the head coach because he's a large human?
There's a reason certain franchises constantly find themselves barely treading water while others continue to reload and flourish.
If one of the Detroit Lions' beat reporters were able to get a quote from Campbell on this apparent issue of NFL head coaches being too intimidating to be hireable, it's a sure lock to be one of the many gems he's delivered over the course of his three seasons in Motor City.
