Super Bowl LX Bound: Mike Vrabel Joins Elite Ohio State Alumni Coaches

Mike Vrabel, after being dismissed as the Tennessee Titans' head coach in 2023, has guided the New England Patriots to Super Bowl LX. The Patriots, who finished 4-13 in the two preceding seasons, achieved a remarkable 14-3 record under Vrabel in 2024.

The team featured a top-five scoring offense and defense, and saw the significant development of quarterback Drake Maye. New England secured its Super Bowl berth by defeating the Chargers 16-3, the Texans 28-16, and the Broncos 10-7 in playoff games.

Mike Vrabel joins a select group of Ohio State alumni who have coached in the Super Bowl.

Vrabel, who has three Super Bowl rings as a player with the Patriots, is now coaching in the championship game. Only one other Buckeye alumnus, Don McCafferty, has led a team to the Super Bowl as a head coach, while Dick LeBeau reached it multiple times as a coordinator.

Don McCafferty's Super Bowl Victory

Don McCafferty played offensive tackle for Ohio State's 1942 national championship team before serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. His professional playing career lasted one season. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Kent State for 11 years.

NFL Assistant with the Colts

In 1959, McCafferty joined the Baltimore Colts as offensive backs coach. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 1963, a position he held for several successful seasons. During this period, the Colts made two NFL Championship appearances (1964 and 1968) and a Super Bowl III appearance (1968).

Rookie Head Coach and Super Bowl V Win

McCafferty became the Colts' head coach in 1970 after Don Shula's departure to the Miami Dolphins. He led the Colts to an 11-2-1 record and a victory in Super Bowl V against the Dallas Cowboys.

The game, characterized by 11 total turnovers and known as the "Blunder Bowl," saw the Colts win 16-13 with a late 32-yard field goal, despite quarterback Johnny Unitas sustaining an injury in the second quarter.

McCafferty is one of two rookie NFL head coaches to win a Super Bowl.

Later Career and Death

McCafferty led Baltimore to the AFC Championship Game in 1971. He was fired five games into the 1972 season after refusing a management directive to bench Unitas. He then coached the Detroit Lions in 1973, finishing with a 6-7-1 record. McCafferty died of a heart attack in 1974 at the age of 53.

Dick LeBeau's Coordinated Success

Dick LeBeau won a national championship with the Buckeyes in 1957. He went on to an NFL playing career with the Detroit Lions, where he recorded 62 interceptions over 14 seasons.

Coaching Path and Bengals Tenure

LeBeau began his NFL coaching career in 1973. He served as defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1984 to 1991 and again from 1997 to 1999. He also had a three-year tenure as the Bengals' head coach from 2000 to 2002, compiling a 12-33 record.

Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Coordinator

LeBeau returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers as defensive coordinator in 2004, a role he held for 11 years. During this period, his defenses consistently ranked among the league's best, with four seasons finishing as the No. 1 scoring defense.

Super Bowl Wins

As defensive coordinator, LeBeau contributed to two Super Bowl victories for the Steelers:

• Super Bowl XL (2005 season): The Steelers won their first championship since 1979, defeating the Seattle Seahawks 21-10.
• Super Bowl XLIII (2008 season): The Steelers secured a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
  • LeBeau's defense was top-ranked in scoring, total, and passing defense that season.
  • The game featured a 100-yard interception return by James Harrison and a game-winning touchdown catch by Santonio Holmes.

Later Career

LeBeau's defense also reached Super Bowl XLV (2010 season) but lost to the Green Bay Packers. He resigned from the Steelers in 2014 and served as defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans for three years before retiring in 2017. Mike Vrabel was hired as the Titans' head coach the following season.