Vrabel off to the Texans
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State defensive line coach Mike Vrabel is leaving to take a position with the Houston Texans, multiple sources close to the situation told BuckeyeGrove.com Thursday. Vrabel later confirmed the report via social media.
"I am thankful for everyone (associated) with TOSU for 3 great years and my family and I are excited to join the Houston Texans as the LB coach," Vrabel said in a release via Twitter.
Vrabel, who played 14 years and won three Super Bowls in the NFL, has spent two years as an assistant coach for the Buckeyes under both interim coach Luke Fickell and current coach Urban Meyer.
Prior to joining the Buckeyes, the Akron, Ohio, native played for Ohio State as a defensive lineman from 1993-1996. In the pros, he made stops at Pittsburgh, New England and Kansas City as arguably one of the league's best linebackers. Vrabel racked up 704 career tackles, 57 sacks and forced 17 fumbles.
Vrabel joined the Ohio State coaching staff in 2011 as the linebackers coach when Fickell was elevated to interim head coach in place of Jim Tressel, who resigned in May 2011 over NCAA violations. When Meyer took over the program in Nov. 2011, he retained Vrabel but moved him over to defensive line.
Vrabel will now coach under former Penn State coach Bill O'Brien, who was also an assistant in New England while Vrabel was still in the NFL. O'Brien was named the head coach of the Houston Texans officially on Jan. 3.
Perhaps Vrabel seemed destined for a career in coaching and New England coach Bill Belichick was complimentary of when Vrabel was hired in 2011.
"During his Patriots career, there was no player more respected for his football intellect and revered for his leadership by his teammates than Mike," Belichick said after Ohio State Vrabel was hired by Ohio State in 2011. "He was elected a team captain by his peers and is a player who I think everyone knew was destined to become a coach after his NFL playing career was over."
We will have more on this breaking news throughout the day.
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