NFL Insider Says It’s ‘Outrageous’ To Compare Robert Saleh, Mike Vrabel Amid Titans News

It was reported late Monday night that the Tennessee Titans were close to finalizing a deal to hire San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as their next head coach.

Amid the news, senior NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic discussed the move, lambasting those who have been comparing Saleh to New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.

The latter spent six seasons as Tennessee’s head coach, leading the Titans to the playoffs three times and earning Coach of the Year honors following the 2021 campaign.

Vrabel, who guided the Patriots to a 14-3 record during the 2025 regular season and has them in the AFC Championship Game, was fired by Tennessee following the 2023 season after the Titans finished 6-11.

“I think it’s fair to point out that the Titans were looking for Mike Vrabel-type qualities in this hire. It’s smart. Who cares if they had that type previously and fired him,” Russini posted on Bluesky. “What’s outrageous is suggesting Robert Saleh is Vrabel. These are two very, very different guys.”

I think it’s fair to point out that the Titans were looking for Mike Vrabel-type qualities in this hire. It’s smart. Who cares if they had that type previously and fired him. What’s outrageous is suggesting Robert Saleh is Vrabel. These are two very, very different guys.

— Dianna Russini (@diannarussini.bsky.social) 2026-01-20T19:44:11.818Z

The 50-year-old Vrabel is currently the longest-tenured head coach in the AFC East after the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins fired Sean McDermott and Mike McDaniel, respectively, this offseason.

The 46-year-old Saleh started his NFL coaching career with the Houston Texans, serving as a defensive intern in 2005 and defensive quality control coach from 2006 to 2008 and assistant linebackers coach in 2009 and 2010.

Saleh was then the Seattle Seahawks defensive quality control coach from 2011 to 2013 and Jacksonville Jaguars linebackers coach from 2014 to 2016.

He had his first stint as the Niners defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020 and was the head coach of the New York Jets from 2021 to 2024 before returning to the Bay Area.

Saleh will be taking over a Titans team that has gone 3-14 each of the last two seasons and hasn’t made the playoffs since the 2021 campaign.