Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons said he is "jealous as hell" of former coach Mike Vrabel's recent success with the New England Patriots [1].
Simmons' comments highlight the stark contrast between Vrabel's immediate impact in New England and the results achieved during his tenure in Tennessee. While Vrabel is now preparing for a championship game, the Titans never reached a Super Bowl under his leadership [3].
Speaking on "The Pivot Podcast" in July [2], Simmons said he now views his former coach differently. The shift in perspective comes after Vrabel led the Patriots to a berth in Super Bowl LX [1]. This achievement occurred during Vrabel's first season as the head coach of the Patriots, spanning the 2025-2026 season [4].
Simmons said that the rapid ascent of the New England team sparked a sense of envy. "I was jealous of Mike Vrabel," Simmons said [5]. The defensive tackle has remained a productive force for the Titans, recording 11 sacks during the 2026 season [6].
Vrabel's ability to quickly rebuild the Patriots' roster and culture has drawn attention across the league. For Simmons, seeing a former mentor reach the pinnacle of the sport so quickly provided a new lens through which to view Vrabel's coaching methods, which did not yield a similar championship run in Tennessee.
The Titans player did not express bitterness toward the organization, but rather a personal longing for the level of success Vrabel currently enjoys. The conversation underscored the volatile nature of NFL coaching and the impact of roster fit on a coach's legacy.
“"I'm jealous as hell"”
This admission reflects the complex relationship between players and coaches in the NFL, where professional respect often coexists with frustration over missed opportunities. Vrabel's immediate success in New England suggests that his system may have been better suited for the Patriots' personnel or that the organizational structure in New England provided a more efficient path to the postseason than the one he navigated in Tennessee.
