The Jets’ Mike Vrabel desires could also be in severe peril because of one in every of their fiercest rivals.
The Patriots’ resolution to fireplace Jerod Mayo shortly after their season-ending win over the Payments on Sunday has thrown a severe wrench into the concept the Jets could possibly be a participant for Vrabel’s providers.
Vrabel is already thought of one of many prime targets to be New England’s subsequent head coach, particularly contemplating the previous Titans’ coach’s connection to the Patriots franchise and the tight relationship he has with proprietor Robert Kraft.
NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport posted shortly after reporting information of Mayo’s demise that “the name Mike Vrabel very quickly comes to the forefront.”
CBS Sports activities NFL insider Jonathan Jones additionally reported that Vrabel “will be a top name” within the Patriots teaching search.
Vrabel is taken into account one of many prime head teaching candidates available on the market and was anticipated to have his decide of the litter this offseason.
He had an interview with the Jets final week and is predicted to have interviews with the Bears and Saints this week about their vacancies.
Studies indicated that the interview with the Jets had gone “very well.”
“Vrabel and the Jets is certainly something to keep an eye on,” Rapoport mentioned on NFL Community on Sunday earlier than information of Mayo’s firing. “The fact that he took the Jets first is significant. There could be some mutual interest here. A long way to go, but certainly this is one to watch with Mike Vrabel and the Jets.”
However the scenario could also be altering reasonably shortly now that the Patriots’ job is open and one NFL reporter appeared to point the flirtation with the Jets could have been a ploy.
CBS Sports activities’ Aditi Kinkhabwala reported that the curiosity within the Jets “was to put pressure on Patriots to make a move.”
SportsKeeda’s Tony Pauline reported final week that Vrabel “wants” the Patriots’ head teaching job, even when it appeared like Mayo is perhaps retained.
Vrabel performed in the course of the dynasty years of the Patriots from 2001-08 as a linebacker and was inducted into the workforce’s Corridor of Fame in 2023.
Throughout his halftime speech in Foxboro in the course of the workforce’s Corridor of Fame celebration Vrabel declared that “we’ve got a game to win” referring to the Patriots.
As head coach of the Titans, Vrabel helped lead Tennessee to a 54-45 file whereas reaching the AFC Championship and profitable the AFC South twice.
In an interview with The Athletic, Vrabel described what he’ll be in search of when he accepts his subsequent teaching gig.
“There’s got to be clear communication with ownership, so that we understand as coaches what the expectations are,” Vrabel mentioned. “That’s so we are able to clarify to them what’s affordable, what we are able to do, what we most likely can do and what we’re going to attempt to do — or die making an attempt. I need to have a construction in place that individuals see the sport the identical manner I do from an X’s and O’s standpoint, from a personnel standpoint, with team-building. We might hopefully have that alignment, which is essential.
“And I would like to be able to say that there’s a quarterback that you feel like you can win with — or that there’s a path to find the one that you can win with.”
If Vrabel stays true to what he mentioned, that would additionally put the Patriots forward of the Jets contemplating the workforce’s quarterback scenario.
Questions encompass whether or not Aaron Rodgers might be with the Jets subsequent season and even taking part in within the NFL nonetheless.
Outdoors of Rodgers, there isn’t a transparent path the place the franchise will go together with the place if he’s not introduced again.
The Patriots have a younger rising star QB in Drake Maye, who has improved all through the season, together with loads of cap house to assist construct a profitable roster going ahead.
