THE FIRST DOMINOES began to fall in January of 2024.
Two days after the regular season concluded, with the Tennessee Titans finishing 7-10, Mike Vrabel was fired as the Titans' coach after six years. Vrabel's teams posted a 56-48 record (including playoffs), with back-to-back AFC South titles, three playoff berths and a trip to the AFC Championship Game in the 2019 season -- but the 2023 season hadn't gone to plan.
As for New England, two days later marked the end of a 24-year era that included six Super Bowls. It was on that day that Bill Belichick, the coach for whom Vrabel played from 2001 to 2008, agreed to a mutual parting of ways with the Patriots.