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The Tennessee Titans parted ways with Mike Vrabel three years ago. In 2024, he spent the season as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns, and in 2025, he became the head coach of a New England Patriots team that made it to the Super Bowl. They didn't win, but making it there was enough to make one of his former players green with envy.
Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was drafted by Tennessee when Vrabel was already the head coach. He spent his first five seasons in the NFL under Vrabel, and watching the Patriots go from the bottom of the league to the Super Bowl was hard to wrap his head around.
"Was I surprised?" Simmons said on a recent episode of Terron Armstead's The Set podcast. "Man, I think we all would be surprised if this guy, first year in New England, they go straight to the Super Bowl. First off, I'm jealous as hell. Like what? ... I was just with you four years, and you couldn't get me to the Super Bowl?"
Since Vrabel was fired, the Titans haven't put together a winning season, something they hope to change in 2026. And, despite his jealousy, Simmons still had praise for his former head coach.
"One of the things when you build that relationship off the football field and I ... think that's the biggest thing with Vrabel, man," Simmons said. "And I can feel this, it's the same with [new Titans coach Robert] Saleh. When you can build a relationship with your players off the football field and not just when you touch that football field, they going to play as hard as they can for you. That's what Vrabel brings, bro. He just brings that type of energy and that type of, I know I'm not your dad but I'm going to do everything possible to make you feel safe with me. I'ma do everything I can do, 'cause on game day I'm going to need you."
Did you catch it? Yes, Simmons is praising Vrabel for how he coaches, but he also slid in there how new head coach Robert Saleh wants to create the same type of relationships with his players. The Titans made the playoffs three times in six seasons under Vrabel, and if Saleh is cultivating the same relationships with his players that Vrabel is, Titans fans should take it as a good sign.
It may not happen this season. The Titans made a lot of changes this offseason that everyone has to adjust to, but if the Titans give Saleh a few years to get the job done, the outcome will be positive. Especially when you have guys like Jeffery Simmons buying in because he will pull the rest of the team with him.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans' Jeffery Simmons 'jealous as hell' of Mike Vrabel
Continue reading...
Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was drafted by Tennessee when Vrabel was already the head coach. He spent his first five seasons in the NFL under Vrabel, and watching the Patriots go from the bottom of the league to the Super Bowl was hard to wrap his head around.
"Was I surprised?" Simmons said on a recent episode of Terron Armstead's The Set podcast. "Man, I think we all would be surprised if this guy, first year in New England, they go straight to the Super Bowl. First off, I'm jealous as hell. Like what? ... I was just with you four years, and you couldn't get me to the Super Bowl?"
Since Vrabel was fired, the Titans haven't put together a winning season, something they hope to change in 2026. And, despite his jealousy, Simmons still had praise for his former head coach.
"One of the things when you build that relationship off the football field and I ... think that's the biggest thing with Vrabel, man," Simmons said. "And I can feel this, it's the same with [new Titans coach Robert] Saleh. When you can build a relationship with your players off the football field and not just when you touch that football field, they going to play as hard as they can for you. That's what Vrabel brings, bro. He just brings that type of energy and that type of, I know I'm not your dad but I'm going to do everything possible to make you feel safe with me. I'ma do everything I can do, 'cause on game day I'm going to need you."
Did you catch it? Yes, Simmons is praising Vrabel for how he coaches, but he also slid in there how new head coach Robert Saleh wants to create the same type of relationships with his players. The Titans made the playoffs three times in six seasons under Vrabel, and if Saleh is cultivating the same relationships with his players that Vrabel is, Titans fans should take it as a good sign.
It may not happen this season. The Titans made a lot of changes this offseason that everyone has to adjust to, but if the Titans give Saleh a few years to get the job done, the outcome will be positive. Especially when you have guys like Jeffery Simmons buying in because he will pull the rest of the team with him.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans' Jeffery Simmons 'jealous as hell' of Mike Vrabel
Continue reading...
