NFL Rumors: Titans Refused To Trade With Patriots Because Of This One Reason

The Tennessee Titans reportedly refused to trade with the New England Patriots for one reason: lingering bad blood over Mike Vrabel. 

Multiple reports tied the Titans’ deadline stance to owner Amy Adams Strunk’s feelings about how Vrabel’s tenure ended in Tennessee, with the belief she was not inclined to help his new team. The rumor gained steam as both clubs stayed quiet at the deadline despite clear needs and available veterans.

The juiciest story of the NFL trade deadline? That the Titans reportedly wouldn’t trade with the Patriots yesterday at the NFL trade deadline because…Tennessee’s owner had ill will about the end of Coach Mike Vrabel’s tenure there. The Patriots had been interested in RB Tony… pic.twitter.com/4hYI60KGgI

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) November 5, 2025

How the Vrabel Fallout Shaped the Titans’ No-Deal Stance

As the Patriots pushed through a strong start, they looked at help at wide receiver and edge rusher. The Titans, stuck in a rebuild, had movable pieces, yet talk surfaced that Tennessee would not engage with New England because of the Vrabel split. 

The #Titans DID NOT pass on any attractive offer from the Patriots in favor of something else.

AAS deserves to be blasted for plenty. We don’t need to add stuff that did not unfold. https://t.co/FoGIEBmhjx

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) November 5, 2025

Analysts pointed to the owner’s dissatisfaction at the end, suggesting it influenced any Patriots discussions. Some insiders countered that Tennessee simply took the best offers and never passed on a superior Patriots package, but the one-reason narrative persisted around the league.

What It Meant for Both Teams at the Deadline

New England stood pat, trusting their team and fit rather than overpaying. Tennessee moved little, sending out only a defender while holding bigger names. 

The idea that the Titans refused to trade with the Patriots became the headline takeaway, fair or not, because it framed the market silence through the Vrabel lens.

Photo Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images