Mike Vrabel's dreams of the Jets may be in serious jeopardy due to one of his fiercest rivals.
The Patriots' decision to fire manager Jerrod Mayo shortly after Sunday's season-ending win over the Bills put a serious dent in the idea that the Jets could count on Vrabel as head coach.
Vrabel is already considered one of the top candidates to be New England's next head coach, especially given his ties to the former Titans coach and Patriots organization, as well as his close relationship with owner Robert Kraft. .
Posted by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network Shortly after news of Mayo's death broke, “the name Mike Vrabel immediately came to the forefront.”
CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones The report also said Vrabel “will be a top name” in the Patriots' coaching search.
Vrabel is considered one of the top head coaching candidates on the market and was expected to be drafted this offseason.
He met with the Jets last week and is scheduled to meet with the Bears and Saints this week regarding their vacancies.
The interview with the Jets reportedly went “very well.”
“Vrabel and the Jets are definitely one to watch,” Rapoport said on NFL Network on Sunday before news of Mayo's firing broke. “The fact that he led the Jets in the first place is important. There could be mutual benefit here. There's a long way to go, but definitely this is a game to watch with Mike Vrabel and the Jets.”
But with the Patriots job open and one NFL reporter seeming to suggest that the flirtation with the Jets may have been a ruse, things could be changing pretty quickly.
CBS Sports' Aditi Kinkabwala reports. He said his interest in the Jets was “to put pressure on the Patriots to move.”
Sportskeeda's Tony Poulin reported last week that Vrabel “desires” the Patriots head coaching job even when it appeared Mayo might stay.
Vrabel played linebacker during the Patriots' dynasty from 2001 to 2008 and will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in 2023.
“We have a game to win,” Vrabel declared of the Patriots during a halftime speech in Foxborough celebrating the team's Hall of Fame induction.
As head coach of the Titans, Vrabel led Tennessee to a 54-45 record, reaching the AFC Championship and winning the AFC South twice.
In an interview with The AthleticVrabel explained what he looks for when taking on his next coaching job.
“There needs to be clear communication with ownership to understand what is expected of you as a coach,” Vrabel said. “It's about explaining to them what's reasonable, what they can do, what they can probably do, and what they're going to do or strive to death. I would like to put in place a system that can be seen from an x and ○ perspective, from a personnel perspective, and from a team building perspective.I hope that we can make that adjustment, but this is extremely important.
“And I want to be able to say there's a quarterback that I think we can win with, or there's a path to finding a quarterback that we can win with.”
If Vrabel is true to his word, the Patriots could have an advantage over the Jets given the team's quarterback situation.
The question has been raised as to whether Aaron Rodgers will be with the Jets next season or if he will still play in the NFL.
Other than Rodgers, there is no clear direction for what the franchise will do at the position if he is not brought back.
The Patriots have a young, rising QB in Drake Maye who has improved throughout the season, and they also have plenty of cap space to help build a winning roster going forward.
