The Tennessee Titans fired Mike Vrabel after the end of the 2023 NFL season. Since then, he has been working as an advisor for the Cleveland Browns and is expected to get a head coaching job in the next cycle.
The New York Jets are a team that will be in the hunt for a new head coach after this season. Former Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano believes they should hire Vrabel.
Chuck Pagano Makes a Case for Mike Vrabel To Become Next Jets HC
The Jets fired Robert Saleh after their 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5. They are 1-4 since then and have played worse on both sides of the ball since getting rid of Saleh. The AFC East franchise still has a lot of young, talented players on the team, and getting the right head coach could immediately make them a playoff team next year.
In a recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Pagano explained why Vrabel will be the best option for the Jets over young emerging candidates.
“I think as an organization, you got to go get Vrabel,” Pagano said. “You can’t worry about [Aaron Rodgers] or this guy or that guy or whatever. Go get a proven friggin’ winner. I think ever since Sean McVay was hired and the success that he had, everybody’s trying to find a needle in the haystack. Sometimes it works out, and more times it doesn’t.”
"Go get a proven friggin' winner."
The @PatMcAfeeShow crew suggests the Jets hire Mike Vrabel as their next head coach ✈️ pic.twitter.com/4JAeKkWPFy
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) November 14, 2024
“So you look at the success [Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn’s] having right now: second time; [Raheem Morris] down in Atlanta: second time. Been through it, made mistakes, had a chance to step back, watch, learn, grow …
“Vrabel is going to be 10 times as good this time around than he was last time because he’s gonna change some things and do some things different because he’s gonna look at himself; he’s a smart guy.”
Rodgers has confirmed that he will not retire after this season, and his presence will likely play a big role in who the Jets hire. Pagano mentioned that the franchise should first get a coach like Vrabel and then consider other elements of the team, including the quarterback and offensive coordinator.
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will likely be the most sought-after candidate in the next coaching cycle. However, Pagano thinks that the Jets should hire someone like Vrabel, who has already been a head coach and will be much better at instilling a culture than a first-time head coach.
A Look at Vrabel’s Coaching Career
Vrabel was the head coach of the Titans for six seasons from 2018-2023. He had a record of 54-45 with three playoff appearances and one trip to the AFC Championship Game. The Titans’ decision to fire him surprised many, as the former Patriots linebacker was widely considered a very good head coach.
During his time in Tennessee, he got the best out of Ryan Tannehill and made the Titans a Super Bowl contender. Similar to the Titans, the Jets can also rely on running the ball. They do not have Derrick Henry, but the duo of Breece Hall and Braelon Allen is arguably the best in the league and can get the job done for any team.
Due to his success with the Titans and reputation around the league, Vrabel will soon get an opportunity to redeem himself. Before becoming a head coach in Tennessee, the 49-year-old served as the Houston Texans’ defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He also spent three years at Ohio State, where he worked with the linebackers and defensive line.
Moreover, Vrabel played eight years for the Patriots during his career and is well aware of the history of the Jets and what needs to be fixed. He has enough experience under his belt, and to turn around a franchise like the Jets, you need a coach like him who can be hard on the players regardless of their accomplishments.
As Pagano mentioned, Vrabel will learn from the mistakes that he made with the Titans. Whichever team gets him, will get a better version of the head coach that exceeded expectations in Tennessee.