I guess Mike Vrabel’s patience has worn thin with the NFL Lockout. According to sources close to the Columbus Dispatch, the ex-Buckeye all-American and 14-year NFL veteran will be returning to Ohio State as the linebacker’s coach.
Vrabel is a 3-time NFL champion, all with the New England Patriots when they went on their dominant streak of winning three Super Bowl titles in four seasons. He spent the last two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs who still have him down on their roster as the starting linebacker for the fall, considering there will be football in the fall.
The Chiefs linebacker has been one of the player representatives in dealings with the NFL owners during the lockout which might threaten the start of training camp.
Vrabel was named to the NFL’s All-Pro team in 2007 and to Sports Illustrated’s All-Decade team two seasons later. At Ohio State, Vrabel was a two-time All-American in 1995 and 1996 on teams that combined for a 22-3 record. On the same team was Luke Fickell, Vrabel’s college roommate, who is now the head coach of the Buckeyes after Jim Tressel’s exit due to major NCAA violations.
Vrabel, 35, will be filling the 37-year-old Fickell’s opening left at the co-defensive coordinator position, in which he worked mainly with the linebackers.
As a proven winner and former Buckeye, Vrabel is a great hire for the Ohio State program. The players need a positive figure to turn the program around. But, what will the Chiefs do at the linebacker spot which was abruptly left open by Vrabel? Not that the Chiefs will be in contention for a playoff spot this year, but one can’t help but to wonder.
