Jets interview former Titans coach Mike Vrabel for coaching job

Antwan Staley, New York Daily News on Jan 3, 2025

Published in Football

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

NEW YORK — On Thursday, the Jets began searching for a new coach by interviewing Ron Rivera.

Now, one of the biggest coaching free agents will interview with Gang Green on Friday.

The Jets interviewed former Titans coach Mike Vrabel, a source confirmed. Vrabel is considered one of the hottest candidates in this coaching cycle.

Vrabel, 49, was Tennessee’s coach for six seasons (2018-23). During that time, he led the Titans to the playoffs three times and finished with a record of 54-45. That includes an appearance in the 2019 AFC championship game before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs.

In 2021, Vrabel was the NFL Coach of the Year after Tennessee won the AFC South with a 12-5 record. However, his final two seasons with the Titans fielded little success.

Vrabel ended his tenure in Tennessee with back-to-back losing seasons, which led to general manager Jon Robinson’s firing in 2022. A year later, Vrabel was also fired after the Titans finished 6-11.

This season, Vrabel worked in a consulting role with the Browns. His contract in Cleveland ended Monday.

Candidates working for an NFL team cannot interview until the regular season ends on Sunday.

Vrabel is the second known candidate to interview for the Jets coaching job, following Rivera, who has previous coaching experience with the Panthers and Commanders.

Former Jets and Bills coach Rex Ryan said this week during a radio interview with ESPN New York that he expects to interview for the coaching vacancy. However, no meeting has been scheduled.

Vrabel is expected to attract broad interest around the league. In addition to the Jets, the Bears and Saints have coaching vacancies after firing Matt Eberflus and Dennis Allen this season.

The Raiders could also be interested in Vrabel if they decide to part ways with Antonio Pierce. Vrabel’s former Patriots teammate Tom Brady is now a minority owner of the Raiders.

Speaking of the Patriots, they could also be interested in making Vrabel their coach. He was a linebacker in New England under Bill Belichick for eight seasons and is in the team’s Hall of Fame. Vrabel was also a three-time Super Bowl champion as a player with the Patriots. Jerod Mayo has been under fire as the Patriots are going through a disastrous 3-13 season.

The Jets haven’t been to the postseason since 2010 and are desperate to end the longest playoff drought in North American sports. Vrabel recorded four consecutive winning seasons in Tennessee (2018-21) and has a proven track record of being a program builder, something the Jets have needed for over a decade.

The Jets are coming to the end of a turbulent 2024 season that has seen several changes. On Oct. 8, Jets owner Woody Johnson fired coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start and a loss to the Vikings in London. A month later, on Nov. 19, Johnson fired general manager Joe Douglas after five-plus years.

Since Jeff Ulbrich became interim coach, the Jets have a 2-9 record.

In November, Johnson hired The 33rd Team, a media and consulting group led by former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum and former Dolphins and Vikings GM Rick Spielman, to help assist them in both their general manager and coaching searches.

Former Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, former Titans GM Jon Robinson, Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy, and ESPN analyst Louis Reddick have previously interviewed for the Jets general manager role.