sports_defense

OSU defensive line coach Mike Vrabel coaches his unit during The Game Nov. 30 at Michigan Stadium. OSU won, 42-41.
Credit: Ritika Shah / Asst. photo editor

Ohio State defensive line coach Mike Vrabel is leaving the Buckeyes to take a job with the Houston Texans, according to multiple reports.

The Texans, who hired former Penn State coach Bill O’Brien as head coach Jan. 3, finished 2-14 in 2013 and have the top overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Vrabel confirmed the move from his personal Twitter account at about 6:20 p.m. Thursday, thanking OSU in the process.

“I am thankful for everyone assoc with TOSU for 3 great years and my family and I are excited to join the Houston Texans as the (linebackers) coach,” the tweet read.

An OSU spokesman also confirmed with The Lantern that Vrabel is leaving OSU.

Vrabel has been a member of the Buckeye staff since 2011, starting as linebackers coach under then-coach Luke Fickell and switching to the defensive line when coach Urban Meyer joined the program in 2012.

A three-time Super Bowl Champion as a linebacker for the New England Patriots, Vrabel played defensive end at OSU from 1993-96, being named a consensus All-American in his final year at the school. He holds school records for career sacks (36), career tackles for loss (66) and owns the single season record for tackles for loss with 26 in 1995.

Vrabel becomes the second OSU defensive coach since the end of the regular season to leave the program, after co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Everett Withers accepted the head coaching position at James Madison University Dec. 20.

This season, Vrabel coached a unit that finished third in the country with 42 sacks, and tied for 19th in tackles for loss with 91. The Buckeye defense as a whole, however, finished ranked 47th in total defense in the country, giving up 377.4 yards per game. In the team’s final four games, opponents scored no less than 34 points against OSU.