For anyone who’s been handed a pink slip, this year’s Super Bowl offers more than just sports and music.
It is also a rare display of workplace vindication.
On Sunday, the New England Patriots face off against the Seattle Seahawks for the finale of the 2025-26 NFL season. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold were both previously with teams that cast them aside — most of which failed to even make it to the playoffs this year.
Of course, getting dumped comes with the territory in pro sports. Vrabel was fired as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans in early 2024 after a power struggle with ownership, while Darnold was passed over by four previous teams: the Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, the Carolina Panthers, and the New York Jets.
Now, both Vrabel and Darnold are at the top of their game, their old bosses are sidelined, and one is guaranteed to walk away with a trophy. (If you’re a Simpsons fan, cue Nelson Muntz’s “Ha ha!”)
“It’s proof that a different environment makes a huge difference in terms of your potential,” said Roy Cohen, a career coach in New York.
The same logic applies to the business world. Some people lose jobs because they aren’t a good fit, only to later thrive at other companies.
“A bad marriage doesn’t mean you’re destined to always have a bad marriage,” said Cohen.
Getting fired can be a powerful motivator for people to level up their career, said Dana Sumpter, associate professor of organization theory and management at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School.
“That means I’m going to double down on my efforts at the next place, not only to ensure that this doesn’t happen again, but also to show my former employer, ‘Look what you lost,’ ” she said.
A client of Nashville-based career coach Bryan Creely initially took a hit to his self-confidence after being sacked from a healthcare startup a few years ago. The client then changed his attitude, launched a job search, and is now in a better-paying, more senior role at a company where he feels valued.
Creely said that kind of end result is common. “In almost every case, people tend to come out stronger,” he said.
Feeling hurt, angry, or both is natural after losing a job, regardless of the circumstances.
“Of course, we have revenge fantasies,” said Laura Greve, a clinical psychologist in Boston for C-suite executives, politicians, and other high achievers — and a Patriots fan.
It’s not wise, though, to lash out against your former employer or the individual who let you go.
“Trying to convince somebody that they’ve mistreated you is something I often have to counsel people against,” she said. “That’s not productive.”
Instead, Greve recommends pouring your energy into landing a better role elsewhere — just like Sunday’s matchup shows. Getting further ahead in your career at another company can be highly satisfying, especially if your old boss is likely to hear about it. The leaders of the teams that Vrabel and Darnold used to work for are undoubtedly aware that both men have moved on to new gigs where they’re excelling.
“You’re looking for restorative justice,” said Greve.
Likewise, don’t gloat to former colleagues or in social-media posts after achieving a career upgrade, or you might hurt your future career prospects, warned Cohen. When verifying your work history, prospective employers may learn about your bravado and not appreciate it.
“It’s not unusual for hiring managers to just pick up the phone and call their buddies at other companies for the down low,” he said. “You don’t want to burn any bridges, even with employers who treated you badly.”
