In 2018, the Tennessee Titans interviewed both Houston Texans defensive coordinator and Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur for their head coaching vacancy. In the end, Vrabel was hired as the head coach, but the team wanted LaFleur and was able to bring him in as a playcalling offensive coordinator.

Well, they are probably regretful with that decision, as The Athletic's Mike Sando reported, but that's a conversation for another day. The fact is that Vrabel had relative success as a CEO-type head coach, despite not having a significant track record as a coordinator.

Now that Vrabel was fired by the Titans, however, he didn't get another immediate head coaching opportunity. And it seems like he won't get — and wouldn't want — a defensive coordinator job.

Under Matt LaFleur, the Green Bay Packers already hired their new defensive coordinator in former Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley. But the coaching staff hasn't been completely finalized yet. So could Mike Vrabel be a part of it as an assistant head coach?

Why does it make sense for Mike Vrabel?

When a coach gets fired and can't get a job right away, he has to go through a process to recover value in league circles. Do you remember when Mike McCarthy had multiple media appearances to tell people about how he was reinventing himself with the help of analytics before being hired by the Dallas Cowboys?

Sometimes, a year away from football might help. But other times, it makes sense to be a part of something to change narratives.

And the narrative around Vrabel has gone to strange places over the last couple of days.

"He's a very large human being," a source told The Athletic's NFL insider Dianna Russini, as she recalled during The Athletic Football Show on Monday. "And can be very intimidating to people in an organization."

With the Packers, Vrabel would have the opportunity to take a step back and show he can collaborate and work alongside other people. The fact that he knows Matt LaFleur would help.

The Packers have a young, ascending roster, and the natural development of the group would be an important calling card for Vrabel on the market a year from now.

Why does it make sense for the Packers?

Over the last couple of years, it felt like there were too many things on Matt LaFleur's plate. He is the leader and face of the franchise, he is the offensive playcaller, and he had to be more involved in the defense with his unsuccessful DC hirings.

"There's nothing more lonely than when you're not having success and you are the playcaller," LaFleur said some time ago. "It's easy when things are going good, everybody has an idea. But when you're not having success on offense, it's like crickets on the headset."

Mike Vrabel wouldn't help offensive-scheme wise, but he would be useful for other coaching and leading tasks. His experience and insight as a former head coach certainly have value.

It would also help the Packers because special teams got worse from 2022 to 2023, when Rich Bisaccia was promoted from special teams coordinator to assistant head coach as well. It's not clear from the outside what Bisaccia additionally does, but freeing him from extra tasks might be smart.

Matt LaFleur has shown willingness to add veteran, experienced coaches on his staff — John Donovan, Aubrey Pleasant, and Tim Lester have been assistants or analysts with the team. Vrabel could be the next one, and it would make sense for all parties involved.

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