Fan Polls on Next Coach for the Tennessee Titans Team

As the Tennessee Titans navigate a season filled with injuries and playoff uncertainty, fan attention has already begun to shift toward a critical off-season question: who should be the team’s next head coach? With speculation swirling about the future of current head coach Mike Vrabel—whose contract runs through 2025 but has faced growing scrutiny over recent offensive struggles—local sports outlets and fan forums have launched polls to gauge supporter sentiment. These surveys aren’t just about picking a name; they’re a window into what Titans fans value most in a leader: offensive innovation, defensive rigor, experience with star players like Derrick Henry, or a track record of rebuilding struggling units. Fan Polls on Next Coach for the Tennessee Titans Team breaks down the key findings from these polls, highlighting the top candidates, fan priorities, and the tensions between short-term wins and long-term team building.

Fan Polls on Next Coach for the Tennessee Titans Team begins with the core priorities fans identified in their ideal coach— a list that emphasizes offensive revival above all else. In a poll conducted by Nashville-based sports radio station 104.5 The Zone, 62% of respondents listed “improving the passing offense” as their top priority, followed by “maximizing Derrick Henry’s remaining prime” (23%) and “strengthening defensive consistency” (15%). This focus on offense comes as no surprise: the Titans rank 22nd in the NFL in passing yards per game this season, and the recent season-ending injury to their top wide receiver has only amplified frustrations with the team’s lack of offensive dynamism. “We’ve relied too much on Derrick Henry for too long,” one poll respondent wrote in a comment section. “We need a coach who can build a balanced offense that keeps defenses honest and makes Ryan Tannehill (or a new QB) look good.” Another common theme was “adaptability”—58% of voters said they wanted a coach who could adjust game plans mid-game, a criticism often leveled at the current staff’s tendency to stick to run-heavy schemes even when they’re not working.

A second key takeaway from the polls is the dominance of two front-runner candidates: Sean Payton (retired, former New Orleans Saints coach) and DeMeco Ryans (current Houston Texans head coach). In a poll by the Titans’ official fan forum, “Titans Report,” Payton received 38% of the vote, while Ryans earned 32%—far ahead of other names like Jim Harbaugh (Michigan coach, 15%) and Brian Daboll (Buffalo Bills coach, 10%). Payton’s appeal lies in his proven track record of building high-powered offenses (he led the Saints to a Super Bowl win in 2009) and his ability to revitalize struggling quarterbacks—something Titans fans hope he could do for Tannehill or a future signal-caller. “Payton knows how to win with different types of rosters,” one voter commented. “He turned Drew Brees into a Hall of Famer and made the Saints relevant for over a decade. We need that kind of vision here.” Ryans, meanwhile, has won fans over with his impressive first season in Houston, where he’s turned the Texans from a 3-13 team last year to a 6-4 contender this season—all while developing young talent like quarterback C.J. Stroud. “Ryans is a defensive guy but understands how to balance offense and defense,” another poll respondent noted. “He’d keep our defense strong while fixing the offense—something we haven’t had in years.”

Fan Polls on Next Coach for the Tennessee Titans Team also includes the mixed feelings about current coach Mike Vrabel— a split that reflects the team’s recent ups and downs for the Tennessee Titans. In a separate poll by The Tennessean newspaper, 47% of fans said they wanted Vrabel to return next season, while 53% said they preferred a new coach. This divide mirrors the Titans’ performance: Vrabel led the team to three playoff appearances in his first four seasons (including an AFC Championship Game berth in 2019) but has struggled to maintain that success amid roster turnover and offensive woes. “Vrabel is a great leader and a Titan at heart, but the offense is stuck in the past,” one fan who voted to keep him wrote. “Give him a better OC and a healthy receiving corps, and he could turn this around.” Those who favored a change, however, argued that the team’s issues run deeper than personnel. “We’ve had the same problems for two years—no deep passing game, no adjustments, no development of young receivers,” a voter against Vrabel said. “It’s time for a fresh perspective.” For the Tennessee Titans, this split sentiment puts pressure on team ownership: keeping Vrabel could alienate a large portion of the fanbase, but firing him would mean walking away from a coach with a proven playoff record and strong locker room respect.

Another notable finding from the polls is the divide between long-time Titans fans and newer supporters— a gap that reflects different visions for the team’s future for the Tennessee Titans. In a demographic breakdown from the 104.5 The Zone poll, fans who have followed the team for 15+ years were 61% more likely to support retaining Vrabel or hiring a “proven NFL veteran” like Payton. These fans often cited the franchise’s history of stability (only three head coaches since 1999) and a desire to avoid the “rebuilding cycles” that plague other teams. “I’ve seen us go through bad coaches before—we don’t need to start over,” a 20-year fan said. “Payton or Vrabel can win now with the right pieces.” Newer fans (those who started following the team in the last 5 years), however, were 54% more likely to back a young, innovative coach like Ryans or even college coaches like Harbaugh. This group prioritizes “excitement” and “long-term growth” over immediate playoff runs, with many expressing frustration with the Titans’ conservative style. “I want to watch a team that can score 30 points a game, not just rely on Derrick Henry to carry us,” a 3-year fan commented. For the Tennessee Titans, bridging this divide will be key: the team needs to appeal to its loyal base while attracting younger fans who crave a more dynamic product on the field.

Finally, Fan Polls on Next Coach for the Tennessee Titans Team wraps up with what the polls mean for the Titans’ front office— and the pressure to make a decision that unites the fanbase for the Tennessee Titans. While fan polls don’t dictate team decisions, they do send a clear message to general manager Ran Carthon and ownership: the offense must be fixed, and the next coach must have a plan to do it. The popularity of Payton and Ryans also suggests fans want a balance of experience and innovation—someone who can win now but also build for the future as Henry approaches the latter stages of his career. “The front office can’t ignore these results,” said a local sports analyst who helped design one of the polls. “Fans are frustrated, and they’re telling you exactly what they want: an offense that’s fun to watch and a coach who can adapt. If the Titans pick someone outside the top two or three fan favorites, they risk losing even more support.” For the Tennessee Titans, the next coach hire will be about more than just X’s and O’s—it’s about reconnecting with a fanbase that’s growing restless, restoring confidence in the team’s direction, and proving that the franchise can compete in a pass-heavy NFL. Fan Polls on Next Coach for the Tennessee Titans Team ultimately shows that while fans may disagree on the name, they’re united in one goal: bringing a winning, exciting brand of football back to Nashville.