Titans’ Mike Vrabel hands head coaching duties to assistant for Bears game

Titans assistant Terrell Williams will be the acting head coach against the Bears in Saturday’s exhibition opener at Soldier Field, head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters on Monday.

“I do think it’ll be a great opportunity,” he said. “Well-deserved. It’s something that I wanted to do.”

The move was not made because Vrabel had to leave the team. Vrabel said he’ll still be around the Titans and help out as an assistant. Williams will run things Friday-Sunday while assistant Clinton McMillan takes over Williams’ defensive line duties.

“This is a great opportunity for him and for us, and everybody involved,” Vrabel said.

The move figures to help Williams should he apply for a head coaching job in the future. Williams is the Titans’ assistant head coach and defensive line coach. He’s been with the Titans since 2018 after serving similar roles with the Dolphins 2015-17 and the Raiders from 2012-14.

The Titans gave Williams the title of assistant head coach during the offseason, which Vrabel said in March was a result of the “consistency on and off the football field, the relationship and connection he’s built with every defensive lineman.”

Last year, the Titans ranked No. 12 in both rush defense and pass rush, according to Pro Football Focus.

“I’ll help him where need be,” Vrabel said.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said the Bears’ starters will get “some play time” Saturday but that the team was still working out exactly how much.