Former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel visited the New York Jets over the weekend, and it could have been in part to put pressure on the New England Patriots, according to CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala.
Vrabel served as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns organization this season after spending the previous six seasons as the head coach for the Tennessee Titans.
The Browns let him out of his contract early to get a head start on his interviews for a head coaching job. There are openings with the Patriots, Jets, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars.
The fact that Vrabel would interview with the Patriots’ division rival first is something of note.
“Was told that Mike Vrabel’s dalliance w/ #Jets was to put pressure on #Patriots to make a move,” Kinkhabwala posted on X. “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 NE job ranks high.”
Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced the team’s decision to fire Jerod Mayo as head coach after the team’s 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
There is already a deep connection with Vrabel in New England as a former player and three-time Super Bowl champion with the team. The Patriots are seeking stability in their next head coach, and perhaps they can find it in a familiar face.
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