The New York Jets have interviewed former NFL coach of the year Mike Vrabel in their search for Robert Saleh’s successor as head coach.
Vrabel, who made the play-offs three times during his time leading the Tennessee Titans between 2018 and 2023, spoke to the Jets on Friday.
Thursday will mark the anniversary of the Titans firing Vrabel after consecutive losing seasons, with his deal as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns ending four days ago.
Closing it out at home. pic.twitter.com/ycCXR69jiZ
— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 3, 2025
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Vrabel: Winning ‘the ultimate goal’
In a report released on the same day as Vrabel’s interview, the 49-year-old said he had detected a perception that he does not collaborate well with owners and general managers during interviews with the Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons after he left the Titans.
“I care about the team,” Vrabel told The Athletic, which followed him for five months after his exit. “No job is too small for me or anybody else to help the team win. I feel like I can work with anybody.
“I feel like winning is the ultimate goal and I — just like our team — have got to be willing to adjust and adapt to things that are going on.
“But I believe that I can respectfully disagree, have a conversation and move on and get past it. I’m also not afraid to share my opinion and what I believe in, my convictions about things that relate to helping a football team win, building a team or helping players, helping scouts.”
Todd Downing speaks on wrapping up the final week of the season: pic.twitter.com/Wc3uCprT3E
— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 2, 2025
Jets must have ‘structure’ – Vrabel
The winner of the best coach honour in 2021, Vrabel said he “didn’t plan on being fired” by his former team and outlined what he would expect from Jets owner Woody Johnson if the billionaire becomes his boss.
“There’s got to be clear communication with ownership so that we understand, as coaches, what the expectations are,” said Vrabel.
“That’s so we can explain to them what’s reasonable, what we can do, what we probably can do and what we’re going to try to do — or die trying.
“I want to have a structure in place that people see the game the same way I do; from an X’s and O’s standpoint, from a personnel standpoint, with team-building. We would hopefully have that alignment, which is critical.
“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.”
Jets ‘interview Rivera’
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ future is uncertain at the age of 41 after his team finished 4-12 in the AFC East, with veteran Tyrod Taylor serving as his understudy this season.
Jeff Ulbrich has deputised for Saleh on an interim basis since Johnson removed a coach mid-season for the first-time in his 25-year ownership, while Phil Savage has acted as temporary general manager since Joe Douglas’ exit in November.
Vrabel is likely to be a candidate for every NFL opening. The New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears currently have vacancies.
The Jets also interviewed former Panthers and Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera before meeting Vrabel, and they are allowed to speak to coaches employed by other teams after the regular season ends on Sunday.
NFL analyst and former safety Louis Riddick has been interviewed to succeed Douglas.
