Ever since Mike Vrabel became the head coach of the Titans, he’s brought his signature toughness, intensity and gridiron intelligence to the organization. He’s also been a worthy adversary to the team he made a name with in his playing days, the New England Patriots. If you’re a believer that iron sharpens iron, then some coordinated practices on the horizon for 2023 could be beneficial to both parties.
According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, word out of the 2023 NFL Owners Meetings is Vrabel and his former coach, Bill Belichick, were discussing the possibility of joint practices in Nashville this summer. While the teams don’t play in the 2023 regular season, this could be a good tip of hand that they’ll be playing each other in the preseason in Nashville.
Tennessee and New England have had some spirited matchups and practices since Vrabel took over in 2018. The two teams shared the practice field in the summer of 2019, marked by some verbal chippiness by longtime friends Tom Brady and Vrabel. That season ended infamously with the Titans beating the Pats in the AFC Wild Card Game in Foxboro, ending Brady’s time in New England. While nothing as monumental is likely to take place this time around, this could make for some intense practices and preseason action ahead of a huge season for both teams, among coaches who know each other all too well.
