Mike Vrabel is considered one of the biggest names on the 2025 head coaching circuit. This comes from his success with the Tennessee Titans, guiding them to four winning seasons in six years. So it shouldn’t be a shock that the Chicago Bears would move to speak with him for their head coach opening. He has a reputation for being hard-nosed, disciplined, detailed, and a true alpha as a leader. Those are all qualities players in the locker room have expressed this team needs.
Still, there is skepticism that such a union will happen. That is mostly because it is believed Vrabel is destined to take the New England Patriots job. They’ve already cleared the Rooney Rule and appear poised to fast-track him to the job once they’ve met with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. However, according to Adam Hoge of CHGO, there is a belief around the league that Vrabel may like the Chicago opportunity more than many think. It stems primarily from the presence of Ryan Poles.
Some in league circles believe Vrabel and GM Ryan Poles would be a great match, given their Kansas City Chiefs connections. The bigger question seems to be about compatibility with ownership. Will Vrabel have enough faith in the McCaskeys? And will George McCaskey sign off on a true “alpha” leader who won’t be afraid to ruffle feathers inside the building? Whether Vrabel takes the job or not, how serious things get between the two sides could tell us a lot about how the job is viewed around the league.
That has been evident from the fact that he has signed multiple players from the coach’s former team in Tennessee. DeMarcus Walker, Nate Davis, and Kevin Byard have all found their way to Chicago. That seems clear evidence Poles is a fan of how Vrabel coaches and develops his players. The two know each other from their time together in Kansas City. Poles is known for being flexible with personnel decisions, giving the head coach considerable sway in what types of players he wants.
Throw in Caleb Williams as the cherry on top, and it’s far from a terrible situation for Mike Vrabel to consider. The only problem is New England offers more. He won three Super Bowls there as a player. He knows the owner, Robert Kraft, personally. They, too, have a quarterback. Such perks are almost impossible to pass up from his perspective. So unless, by some miracle, the Patriots pivot to Johnson or somebody else, Vrabel coming to Chicago is a long shot.
