NFL Rumors: Jets Wanted Mike Vrabel ‘Bad,’ Made ‘Late Push’ Before Patriots Contract
Featured Columnist IVJanuary 12, 2025
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The New England Patriots have reportedly hired Mike Vrabel to be the team’s next head coach, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, though they weren’t the only organization in hot pursuit of the former Tennessee Titans’ head honcho.
According to Connor Hughes of SNY, the New York Jets made a concerted effort to bring him aboard as well:
Connor Hughes @Connor_J_Hughes
Jets made a late push — they wanted him bad (justifiably so).
It was always uphill battle, likely impossible, for a team to beat out NE, though. https://t.co/5o6qim3PT9
Vrabel, 49, interviewed with the Jets earlier in the process, though whether he had any actual intentions of potentially taking that job is unclear. He and the Patriots seemed destined to end up together:
Rich Cimini @RichCimini
It’s interesting how Vrabel interviewed with the Jets on Jan. 3 and, two days later, the Patriots fired Mayo the moment the season ended. Well played, Mr. Vrabel. #Jets
Dianna Russini @DMRussini
A top candidate on the market, every team with a head coaching vacancy pursued Mike Vrabel.
Despite consistent and late pushes from the Bears and Jets, New England is the team that lands him.
Tom Pelissero @TomPelissero
The #Patriots officially hired Mike Vrabel seven days after the regular season ended.
Not including Jerod Mayo, who was locked in contractually, that is the fastest head coaching hire by any team since Washington hired Ron Rivera on Dec. 31, 2019, two days after the season.
Jeff Howe @jeffphowe
The Patriots interviewed a short list of candidates for the vacancy, but they were prepared to expand the search this week if necessary with a second wave of candidates who were being discussed in the building. Of course, that wasn’t necessary with Mike Vrabel taking the job. https://t.co/bqezONe06w
Albert Breer @AlbertBreer
The reality: Mike Vrabel’s availability hovered over the Patriots’ decision-making process. In 31 seasons of ownership, the Krafts have only hired someone they didn’t know previously into a HC or top scouting role once (Carroll).
When Jerod Mayo stumbled, this lever was there. https://t.co/862Uj8zetl
His hiring now leaves five head-coaching vacancies around the NFL, as the Jets, Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars. The Dallas Cowboys could also becoming a sixth team without a head coach, though it appears the team is leaning towards bringing Mike McCarthy back on a new contract
Of those openings, the Jets are hardly the most appealing. While the team undoubtedly has some young and veteran talent in place, there are major question marks at quarterback, where Aaron Rodgers’ future is unclear. And even if he does return, it would come at a major cost to the team’s salary cap situation in the years to come.
The Jets also reportedly have something of a dysfunctional culture under team owner Woody Johnson, according to a scathing report released by The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt, Dianna Russini and Michael Silver in December. That can’t be the most ideal environment to walk into for a prospective coaching hire.
The Patriots, meanwhile, have floundered in a post-Tom Brady world, and owner Robert Kraft didn’t exactly nail the replacement for the legendary Bill Belichick last offseason when hiring Jerod Mayo. But the organization also has the legacy of winning six Super Bowls—Vrabel played on three of those teams—and an appealing young quarterback in Drake Maye.
Those factors, coupled with Vrabel’s familiarity with Kraft and the Patriots, surely played a role in him landing the job over other interested suitors like the Jets. Now, it’s on to plan B for New York, which reportedly has also interviewed Steve Spagnuolo, Mike Locksley, Ron Rivera, Rex Ryan, Darren Rizzi, Matt Nagy and Aaron Glenn for its head-coaching vacancy.
