Former Tennessee Titans player shares thoughts on Mike Vrabel and the Ohio State job
ESPN's Pat McAfee caused a stir this week when he suggested that former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel could be an option to replace Ryan Day as the head coach at Ohio State. Day, who currently has Ohio State in the 12-team College Football Playoff, isn't the most popular guy in Columbus after failing […]
ESPN's Pat McAfee caused a stir this week when he suggested that former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel could be an option to replace Ryan Day as the head coach at Ohio State.
Day, who currently has Ohio State in the 12-team College Football Playoff, isn't the most popular guy in Columbus after failing to beat Michigan for a fourth straight season.
But despite the disappointment of losing to the Wolverines, it seems unlikely that Day, who has lost just 10 games since taking over as the Buckeyes' head coach in 2019, will be fired — regardless of what happens in the playoff.
While it seems that Day will be safe, it's not a guarantee that he'll return to Columbus in 2025. College football, as we all know, can be unpredictable, so you never say never when it comes to coaching changes.
If Day is fired (or if he leaves for another job), it seems unlikely that Vrabel will be the replacement. Vrabel, who was a popular coach with players during his time with the Titans, is expected to be an in-demand option during upcoming NFL head coaching searches. It would be a surprise if Vrabel turned down the NFL to coach in college. The only way that scenario makes sense is if Vrabel doesn't get any NFL offers.
Former Titans center Ben Jones, who played for Vrabel in Nashville from 2018 to 2022, said this week that he doesn't see Vrabel heading to the college game unless he gets offered a ridiculous salary.
"Do you think Vrabel would go [to Ohio State]? You know Vrabel," said former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray to Jones on The Players Lounge.
"Vrabel's getting an NFL job," said Jones. "Unless you give him $15 million, or some 15 or 10 year deal, he is staying in the NFL."
There's no doubt that Vrabel would be a popular hire for the Buckeyes. He's a former Ohio State player with NFL experience and a couple of Super Bowl rings. He's viewed as a "players' coach" who would likely excel on the recruiting trail. Vrabel could be the perfect option to get the Buckeyes over the hump.
But coaching in college these days is a unique challenge. The chaos of NIL deals and the NCAA transfer portal is something that probably isn't very attractive to Vrabel — especially if he gets head coaching offers from NFL teams.
Vrabel at Ohio State would be great for college football, and after seeing Bill Belichick take the North Carolina job, it's not a far-fetched idea. But it still seems unlikely to actually happen — though that can always change.
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