Titans coach Mike Vrabel tests positive for COVID-19 day after Bucs game

TAMPA — Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel has tested positive for COVID-19.

He told reporters Sunday that he woke up with a sore throat following the Titans’ 34-3 preseason win over the Bucs at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday night.

The worry for Tampa Bay is that Vrabel spent a lot of time last week with Bucs quarterback Tom Brady and his son, Jack, after joint workouts Wednesday and Thursday.

Vrabel also huddled with Brady and Bucs coach Bruce Arians prior to Saturday’s game. The meetings were outdoors but none of them were wearing masks. Vrabel and Brady were teammates with the New England Patriots.

Since Vrabel is vaccinated, he will need two negative tests in 48 hours or he will have to quarantine for 10 days.

“We’ll be fine. We’ll figure this thing out,” Vrabel said. “I don’t think anyone who has tested this morning has tested positive.”

Last October, the Titans were fined $350,000 for COVID-19 protocol violations. Between Sept. 24 and Oct. 11, the Titans had 24 members of their organization test positive for COVID-19. As a result of their positive tests, the team’s Week 4 game vs. the Steelers was postponed until Week 7 and the team’s Week 5 game against the Bills was moved from Sunday, Oct. 11 to Tuesday, Oct. 13.

So far, the Bucs say they have had no recent positive tests for COVID-19. Florida reported a little more than 150,000 new cases of COVID over the past week.

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