Bears HC candidate profile: Is Mike Vrabel who Chicago needs?

The search for the next Chicago Bears head coach is underway, and there has been candidates being named and added almost daily. A rising count of candidates currently scheduled to meet with the team has hit 13, after they had permission denied to interview Mike McCarthy.

This week, the team is honing in on some bonafide names as they're scheduled to interview the following: Mike Vrabel (Tennessee Titans former head coach), Ben Johnson (Detroit Lions offensive coordinator), Aaron Glenn (Lions defensive coordinator), Mike Kafaka (New York Giants offensive coordinator), Drew Petzing (Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator) and Pete Carroll (Seattle Seahawks former head coach). One of the first names to interview will be Vrabel, who served as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns one year after being fired as the coach of the Titans.

With Vrabel set to be one of the first names to walk through the doors at Halas Hall, here's an in-depth look at the former Titans head coach who had three playoff appearances in his six season with Tennessee. Considered one of the favorites for the job, Vrabel brings plenty of experience as both a Super Bowl championship player and a coach with playoff experience as well.

Background

• Current job: Served as coaching and personnel consultant for the Cleveland Browns

• Age: 49

• Hometown: Akron, Ohio

• College: Ohio State

Experience

• Coaching and personnel consultant, Cleveland Browns (2024)

• Head coach, Tennessee Titans (2018-2023)

• Defensive coordinator, Houston Texans (2017)

• Linebackers coach, Houston Texans (2014-2016)

• Defensive line coach, Ohio State (2012-2013)

• Linebackers coach, Ohio State (2011)

• Played for Kansas City Chiefs (2009-2010)

• Played for New England Patriots (2001-2008)

• Played for Pittsburgh Steelers (1997-2000)

Fit with Bears

For all intents and purposes, for everything that Ryan Poles and Kevin Warren have said about what they're looking for in the next head coach, they may as well just said Vrabel's name. Wanting a coach with experience, a coach who is going to change the culture of the locker room, and be a tough-nose coach who is going to head players accountable is everything that describes Vrabel both from his playing days and now coaching.

Many have called it a necessity to bring in an offensive-minded head coach to help grown and develop quarterback Caleb Williams, and while Vrabel may not have the offensive mind, it shouldn't matter. He said recently that he has three keys he's looking for in his next job: ownership, collaboration, and quarterback. All three of those items are areas of concern for the Bears coming out of a disappointing 2024 season, so Vrabel would make sense to be the guy tabbed to make those things right as his area of focus.

The biggest questions that would come with the hiring of Vrabel would be his immediate relationship with upper management and ownership, as well as his plan for the talent on the field. There would have to be a plan in place to bring in the best possible offensive coordinator to work with Williams and get the most out of him while Vrabel not only focused on the young franchise guy, but also building this team to be a long-term winner.

They said it....

"I have all say-so. I'm the head coach and I can call whatever play I want. If I say we're going to block a punt, we're going to block a punt. If I say we're going to throw it deep and take a shot, we're going to take a shot. My job is to accept responsibility, give credit and be decisive."

--Mike Vrabel on his role as head coach of the Tennessee Titans upon being hired for his first head coaching role in 2018 (via Tennessean.com)

Bottom line

Vrabel may not be the "sexy pick" for everyone who wants to see Williams and this offense transform to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, but he could very much be the best fit for this organization. The Bears definitely need to find the right coach to get the most out of Williams, but with two playoff appearances since 2011, this team needs a full facelift for their identity and getting back to a winning Bears culture.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell was laughed at when he brought back a fighting attitude of "biting your kneecaps" at his introductory press conference when he was hired back in 2021. Now Detroit, three years into Campbell's tenure, have clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC, have had back-to-back playoff appearances, and no one's laughing at his mindset anymore. Vrabel shares a similar DNA to Campbell, someone who coaches as hard as he plays, and Vrabel knows what it takes to win at the highest level.

There are going to be names more desired than Vrabel, because the focus is on Williams, but when Matt Eberflus was fired, and then again when the season ended, all players wanted to talk about was a culture change, no nonsense type of guy, and a winner. Vrabel has proven he can check off those boxes, and if he brings in the right coaches alongside him, he could have plenty of success for the desperate franchise.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears HC candidate profile: Is Mike Vrabel who Chicago needs?