Have the New York Jets been used?
I don’t think anybody can come to that concrete conclusion without further thought.
According to CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala, Mike Vrabel was quick to accept a head coach interview with the Jets to place pressure on New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
“Was told that Mike Vrabel’s dalliance with the Jets was to put pressure on the Patriots to make a move,” wrote Kinkhabwala on Sunday. “With a young, incredibly promising QB (who improved every week despite very little talent around him), more cap space than anyone, and stable ownership, of course, the New England job ranks high.”
Obviously, this is only a report that a plethora of other insiders have not yet supported, but it’s worthwhile to consider the possibility that Vrabel played Mike Tannenbaum and company a bit. Plus, it’s extremely possible that Vrabel can have two thoughts at the same time.
For instance, what if Vrabel is genuinely interested in the Jets job while also listing the Patriots as his No. 1 destination? There’s no question that the Jets roster is littered with talent, and it’s much better than the Pats’ roster.
Moreover, as a longtime Patriots player, Vrabel could simultaneously long to coach the Pats. So, when a report such as this surfaces, taking a more nuanced approach is usually best.
If I were Vrabel, I’d genuinely be interested in the Jets job. I would also like to see if I could push Kraft to make a decision. So, why not push for the interview to happen before Black Monday—which was the case?
Of course, Kraft ultimately fired Mayo following New England’s season-ending 23-16 home win over the Buffalo Bills, opening the door for the former Patriot linebacker to potentially become the organization’s next head coach.
The former third-round pick spent six seasons (2018-2023) as the Tennessee Titans head coach, logging a 54-45 record, including two division titles and three playoff appearances, one of which amounted to a trip to the 2019 AFC championship game.
Ultimately, Tennessee fired Vrabel after back-to-back losing seasons in 2022 and 2023.
The 2021 NFL Coach of the Year was a coaching and personnel consultant with the Cleveland Browns this season. Vrabel’s contract with Cleveland expired last Monday, allowing him to interview for head coaching vacancies around the league.
While Mike Vrabel’s future on the sidelines remains uncertain, it feels like a Vrabel-Patriots marriage is inevitable, but nothing is certain as Black Monday has yet to officially conclude.
