Titans HC Mike Vrabel Named AP 2021 NFL Coach of…

LOS ANGELES – Titans head coach Mike Vrabel on Thursday night was named 2021 NFL Coach of the Year by the Associated Press.

Vrabel was recognized at the NFL Honors here in Los Angeles just three days before Super Bowl LVI.

Last month, Vrabel was also named 2021 Coach of the Year by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).

At the Pro Bowl, Vrabel was asked about the recognition after guiding the Titans to a record of 12-5 during the regular season. Vrabel’s Titans captured the AFC’s No.1 seed for the first time since the 2008 season. The 12 wins in the regular season were the most for the franchise since 2008, when the Titans finished 13-3.

“What it is,” Vrabel said, “is a reflection of our players and our coaching staff. Yeah, there’s a head coach, and when they give out the award, the head coach gets it. But you know how I feel about when you win, it’s because the players went out and made plays.

“So that’s who this is a reflection of, it’s the performance of our team, and our coaching staff.”

Vrabel’s Titans won the AFC South for the second straight season, and the organization made its third consecutive postseason appearance in his four seasons as head coach.

The Titans used 91 players during the 2021 season, an NFL record for a non-strike season.

Vrabel’s overall record since taking over as coach of the Titans is 44-27, including regular season and playoffs. In 2021, Vrabel tied Jack Pardee for the most total wins by a head coach in his first four seasons with the organization. In Pardee’s first four seasons as head coach from 1990 through 1993, the Oilers were 43-26, including playoffs. Of all Titans/Oilers head coaches with at least four seasons with the franchise, Vrabel’s career winning percentage ranks the highest.

The Titans announced on Tuesday they’d agreed to a contract extension with Vrabel, who was hired before the 2018 season.