The New York Jets have begun the search for their next head coach. On Friday, the team announced they had completed an interview with former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.
Mike Vrabel Interviews With Jets
We have completed an interview with Mike Vrabel for our Head Coach position.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 3, 2025
Vrabel is one of the most desired candidates in this coaching cycle.
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic spoke with Vrabel about what he’s looking for in his next head coaching job. Per Rosenblatt, Vrabel wants communication with ownership, a clear structure in place between coach and general manager, and a quarterback.
“There’s got to be clear communication with ownership, so that we understand as coaches what the expectations are,” Vrabel said. “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.”
As a player, Vrabel is a former three-time Super Bowl winner with the New England Patriots. After serving as an assistant coach for six seasons, Vrabel became the Tennessee Titans head coach in 2018.
Vrabel compiled a record of 54-45, which included three consecutive appearances in the playoffs from 2019-2021. Vrabel won the NFL Coach of the Year in 2021 after the Titans went 12-5.
After a 6-11 season in 2023, the Titans fired Vrabel.
Vrabel spent the past season as a coaching and personnel consultant in Cleveland. Vrabel’s contract with Cleveland expired earlier this week, allowing him to begin the interview process with teams.
Mike Vrabel told me three things he's looking for in his next head coaching job:
– Clear and open communication with ownership
– Collaboration (HC/GM, with owner, etc)
– QuarterbackAn inside look at Vrabel during his "gap year" between HC jobs: https://t.co/zUXIVRrdoV
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) January 3, 2025
Jets Looking For New Head Coach
"From my understanding, it went very, very, very well. That is a feeling shared by both sides of this equation."@Connor_J_Hughes reports on Mike Vrabel's interview with the Jets today: https://t.co/hQygN7Rcyr pic.twitter.com/dlXJc1QB44
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) January 3, 2025
The Jets are in the market for a new head coach after firing Robert Saleh on Oct. 8. The Jets were 2-3 at time time of Saleh’s dismissal.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was named interim head coach. Ulbrich has not been much better, going 2-9 since Saleh’s firing.
Additionally, the Jets must hire a new general manager after firing Joe Douglas on Nov. 26.
The Jets (4-12) close out their season at home on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins (8-8).
