Mike Vrabel Will Start Working With Major Big Ten Football Program

Mike Vrabel appears to be returning to his Big Ten roots.

Vrabel and the Titans parted ways at the end of the regular season, and he's now looking for a new job. How quickly will he land one?

That's unknown but it sounds like he's going to start helping his good friend Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers in a capacity that doesn't seem clear at the moment.

"I talked to him, I think, on Saturday, and we hadn't communicated for probably a week or so just because the process was going. He sounded like a new man. And I'm not sure exactly if this was his choice, or what it is the future it looks like, but I know that we're going to have a visitor here that's going to spend a little bit of time, hopefully around us. Starting, coming up in the spring and some things like that, see how much, how deep we can get involved with my buddy and get him around here," the Wisconsin head coach said during an interview on "ESPN Wisconsin’s Wilde & Tausch," according to 247Sports.

Wisconsin Badgers football coach Luke Fickell says former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel will start spending time around the program. (Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

Mike Vrabel will assist Luke Fickell and the Badgers.

This is great news for the Wisconsin Badgers and Luke Fickell. Vrabel is a hell of a defensive mind. While his time in Tennessee didn't end in great fashion, you can't deny the man knows the defensive side of the ball.

The exact same is true for Luke Fickell, who won seven games in his first year in Madison. Fickell can use all the help he can get.

Wisconsin wasn't overly impressive in his first year, and there's areas all over the field that need to be improved. Bringing in Mike Vrabel as an extra set of eyes in the spring will certainly give the team a boost.

It's never a bad thing to add an NFL coach to the rotation of people helping out, even if it's in an undefined role.

Mike Vrabel will help with the Wisconsin Badgers, according to Luke Fickell. (Credit: The Tennessean via USA Today Sports)

Also, for those of you who might not know, bringing in extra people to observe and assist is very normal. It's incredibly common. Coaches like to get different perspectives. However, it's pretty rare a former pro head coach does it.

Vrabel is only assisting with the Badgers because of his incredibly close ties with Fickell. The two have been great friends since they were at Ohio State together.

Now, Fickell is using that connection to help his defense in spring practice. It's a "smoke ‘em if you got ’em mentality." Vrabel needs something to do, Fickell makes the call and it appears like it will happen in the spring.

Luke Fickell plans on bringing in Mike Vrabel to help with the program. (Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports)

A very positive update for the Badgers after a rough and rocky year one for Luke Fickell and his staff. Let me know what you think at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.