How the Tennessee Titans made sure this week their Super Bowl window will stay open a long time

The Tennessee Titans made sure this week that their Super Bowl window will stay open for years to come. Tennessee announced contract extensions on Tuesday for general manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel. Robinson arrived in Nashville after the 2015 season. At the time, the Titans had suffered through four straight losing seasons. […]

Zach Ragan Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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The Tennessee Titans made sure this week that their Super Bowl window will stay open for years to come.

Tennessee announced contract extensions on Tuesday for general manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel.

Robinson arrived in Nashville after the 2015 season. At the time, the Titans had suffered through four straight losing seasons. Robinson immediately turned the franchise around while making several key moves for the Titans' future (such as drafting running back Derrick Henry and defensive back Kevin Byard).

The Titans went 9-7 in Robinson's first two years as general manager. Robinson decided that wasn't good enough so he parted ways with head coach Mike Mularkey and hired Mike Vrabel.

It took Vrabel a couple of years to get things going — Tennessee went 9-7 in 2018 and 2019 — but the last two years have resulted in an 11-5 season and a 12-5 season and two AFC South Division titles (plus the Titans reached the AFC championship game in early 2020).

The Titans have essentially had a Super Bowl-caliber team the last three years. And it's because of the collaboration between Vrabel and Robinson. Tennessee hasn't had an elite superstar quarterback carrying the franchise. The Titans' success over the last six seasons is a direct result of Robinson's ability to build a roster.

And the Titans' increased success over the last three seasons has been a direct result of the Robinson/Vrabel pairing.

It feels like Robinson and Vrabel have the Titans in a position similar to where the Baltimore Ravens have been for the last decade under John Harbaugh — always a threat to win the division and make a deep playoff run.

All that's been missing has been an elite quarterback (which is one of the hardest things in sports to find).

That should excite Titans fans. Knowing that if Tennessee eventually finds an elite quarterback — whether it's via trade or draft — the opportunity won't be wasted.

Robinson is an elite team builder. And Vrabel is an elite culture builder (there's a reason opposing players want to play for Vrabel).

With those two in place for the foreseeable future, there's no reason to expect the Titans' Super Bowl window to close. When players like Henry age out, Robinson will find a way to fill the void. He's proved time and time again he can do it (look at how they filled the void during the season when Henry was out for an extensive period of time).

It's a fun time to be a Titans fan.

Tennessee's experienced six straight winning seasons since Robinson arrived in early 2016.

Before his arrival, the Titans had never even had three straight winning seasons (since the franchise moved to Nashville).

It's not unreasonable to suggest that this is the golden age of Titans football.

Featured image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK