Titans Drop to 1-4: Vrabel Firing Looking Like Mistake

The Tennessee Titans’ 20-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on October 13th has left fans frustrated and uncertain about the team’s future. With a 1-4 record, questions are swirling about the direction of the franchise and whether a rebuild—or even a deliberate tank for a top draft pick—is the smartest path forward.

Will Levis, starting again at quarterback, struggled to find consistency. His performance included a costly fourth-quarter interception that sealed the Titans’ fate, raising further doubts about whether he can develop into a reliable starter. Levis completed 16 of 27 passes for just 95 yards, and while the run game behind Tony Pollard (93 yards and a touchdown) showed life, the offense lacked the explosive plays needed to win.

This loss feels particularly damaging given the Titans’ upcoming schedule, with tough road games against Buffalo and Detroit looming. The team is running out of time to salvage the season, and the possibility of finishing at the bottom raises an important strategic question: Should the Titans tank for a high draft pick? The 2025 quarterback draft class features intriguing prospects, including Carson Beck (Georgia), Cam Ward (Miami), and Shedeur Sanders (Colorado). While these quarterbacks show promise, there’s skepticism about whether this class has the caliber of player that is capable of successfully leading a NFL franchise.

Head coach Brian Callahan insists the team’s urgency hasn’t faded, but the locker room frustration is evident. “We’re right there,” said linebacker Ernest Jones, “but we’re not capitalizing.”

Did the team make a mistake by firing Mike Vrabel? After six seasons with the Titans, Vrabel was dismissed in January 2024 following back-to-back losing seasons. His tenure saw significant success early on, including three playoff appearances and an AFC Championship run in 2019. He even earned NFL Coach of the Year honors in 2021 after leading the Titans to a 12-5 record and the AFC’s top seed.

However, the team’s trajectory took a sharp downturn over the last two years, with consecutive seasons under .500 (7-10 in 2022 and 6-11 in 2023). The organization cited the need for a fresh approach, bringing in new general manager Ran Carthon and ultimately replacing Vrabel with Brian Callahan, formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals. There were also reports of internal friction between Vrabel and the front office, although both parties denied any significant conflict at the time of his departure.

The question remains: Was the move shortsighted? Vrabel’s leadership helped revitalize a struggling franchise, and many fans now wonder if his firing was premature. With the team on the brink of a lost season, some are left to question whether a seasoned coach like Vrabel could have steadied the ship amid these challenges.

Given the team’s current situation, it’s hard not to wonder what might have been had Vrabel been given more time to rebuild. Instead, the Titans are now in a state of transition, grappling with both on-field struggles and questions about whether their gamble on new leadership was the right move. The road ahead will prove whether the change was necessary or if the Titans let go of the one person capable of leading them through this turbulent period.

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