Report: Cleveland Browns hiring Mike Vrabel as coaching, personnel consultant

Mike Vrabel is making a big return to Ohio where he was a star for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Following his tenure as the Tennessee Titans head coach, Vrabel has reportedly accepted a role with the Cleveland Browns. He’ll be a coaching and personnel consultant, according to Adam Schefter and Field Yates.

Vrabel was fired after leading the Titans to a 6-11 record this past season. Tennessee went 7-10 in 2022. In six seasons, he tallied an overall record of 54-45 with three postseason appearances.

Tennessee went 9-7 in each of his first two seasons, reaching the AFC Championship Game in 2019. In 2020, the Titans went 11-5, before losing in the first round of the playoffs. In 2021, Tennessee entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the AFC after winning 12 regular season games, before falling at home to the Bengals in the playoffs.

Before getting into coaching, Vrabel won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and is in the Patriots Hall of Fame. He played college football at Ohio State where he was twice named a first-team All-American. The former Pats star was named the NFL’s Coach of the Year in 2021.

Vrabel interviewed for open coordinator positions and even the Chargers head coaching job after his firing from the Titans. However, he lands with the Browns in what appears to be a stopgap role until his next leadership opportunity opens.

Browns sign Jameis Winston to back up Deshaun Watson

The Cleveland Browns signed quarterback Jameis Winston to a one-year deal this week to become Deshaun Watson‘s backup next season. The former Saints signal-caller entered free agency this week after appearing in seven games for New Orleans this season. Though the Browns were reportedly interested in Jacoby Brissett initially, Brissett is signing a one-year deal with the Patriots instead.

Winston fielded plenty of interest but opted to join the Browns where he has a “great relationship” with Deshaun Watson. His new deal is worth up to $8.7 million. Other free agent quarterbacks have signed one-year deals for up to $10 million so far this cycle.

Wintson was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft after winning a Heisman Trophy at Florida State. He has split his nine-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints, the latter of which he has spent the last four years.