Minnesota Vikings: 6 spooky similarities to the Tennessee Titans

6 spooky similarities between the Vikings and Titans

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 11: Kyle Rudolph #82 of the Minnesota Vikings has a pass knocked away by Sean Spence #55 of the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Vikings defeated the Titans 25-16. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images) Mike Zimmer – Minnesota Vikings /

Both teams are led by defense-first coaches

Head coach Mike Zimmer joined the Vikings in 2014 when the team was a defensive mess. In the six years before his arrival (2008-2013), the Vikings ranked 25th in points allowed. Since he became the purple and gold’s skipper, Minnesota ranks second in the NFL for this metric. It’s truly been a defensively oriented rejuvenation of Vikings football.

In Tennessee, the Titans brought head coach Mike Vrabel on board after the 2017 season. Tennessee had just won its first playoff game in 15 seasons when they toppled the Kansas City Chiefs — on the road — in a 22-21 postseason stunner. How did the Titans receive this wonderful news? They fired then-head coach Mike Mularkey a few weeks later.

Flash forward to 2020, and the coaching swap is championed as a sound decision. Vrabel played linebacker during his professional career for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, and Chiefs. He’s brought his defensive brain to Tennessee’s locker room and has thus far been successful.

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