THE New York Jets will be looking for a new head coach in 2025 after Robert Saleh’s regime failed to produce a winning season, let alone a playoff berth in four years.
Jet wire will analyze each candidate who receives an interview detailing the ups and downs of their coaching career and decide whether that candidate deserves a chance or whether the Jets should move on and move on to something better.
For our next trip down the Jets coaching carousel, we take a look at a big favorite to become head coach in 2025, Mike Vrabel.
The Tennessee Titan
Mike Vrabel was named head coach of the Tennessee Titans in 2018 after four seasons with the Houston Texans as linebackers coach and ultimately defensive coordinator.
In his first season with the Titans, Vrabel finished 9-7, but missed the playoffs after finishing third in the AFC South. Tennessee was eighth in the league in total defense and third in points allowed per game with 19, ahead of only Baltimore and Chicago. 2018 also marked the beginning of Derrick Henry’s rise to becoming one of the league’s best running backs with his first 1,000-yard, 12-touchdown season.
Vrabel’s best season with the Titans came in 2019. Henry rushed for over 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns, but the Titans still struggled at quarterback and Vrabel eventually put starter Marcus Mariota on the bench. benched in a game against Denver for Ryan Tannehill, who was acquired during the 2019 offseason from the Miami Dolphins after catching fire under their coach and fan favorite Jets, Adam Gase.
Tannehill thrived under Vrabel and his offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith. The former Texas A&M quarterback threw 22 touchdowns and set franchise records in completion percentage (70.3) and quarterback rating (117.5).
Thanks to Vrabel’s no-nonsense style, Henry’s dominant running game and a rejuvenated Tannehill, the Titans embarked on a Cinderella run to the AFC Championship Game where they lost to Patrick Mahomes and the Chicago Chiefs. Kansas City.
The Titans dominated in the 2020 and 2021 seasons behind Tannehill and Henry where they finished in first place in the AFC South with a combined record of 23-10. But they couldn’t return to the AFC Championship Game in each of those seasons after losses to the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively.
The Titans began their downward spiral in the 2022 season. Vrabel lost Arthur Smith to the Atlanta Falcons and the team traded star wide receiver AJ Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles for a first-round draft pick. The Titans used the first-round pick they received in the AJ Brown trade to select wide receiver Treylon Burks, but he failed to match Brown’s production.
Tannehill suffered several injuries that season and was eventually benched for rookie Malik Willis, who struggled mightily. Vrabel’s defense was still solid against the run, but it was the worst in the league against the pass and it all led to a 7-10 mark in 2022. The Titans missed the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.
This only got worse during the 2023 season, as the team became overly reliant on Henry’s run, struggled at quarterback, and had no weapons outside of his star running back. Tennessee finished 6-11 and in last place. Vrabel was fired after the season and left Tennessee with a 54-45 coaching record, three playoff appearances and a trip to the AFC Championship Game in six seasons.
Should the Jets consider him as head coach?
Decision: 100% Yes
Mike Vrabel has an intensity in him that the Jets sorely need for this team to win again after Robert Saleh’s laid back approach produced a very smooth team. Although we often hear about coaches advocating accountability, Vrabel would have no problem calling out players for a bad play and even if they hate it at the time, they will respect it the next morning.
Unfortunately, it appears the Jets likely won’t get a chance to hire Vrabel, as multiple reports link him to the New England Patriots after firing their head coach, Jerod Mayo, after one season. If a potential deal with New England falls through, the Jets should definitely make Vrabel a top priority.
This article was originally published on Jets Wire: New York Jets coaching carousel breakdown: Mike Vrabel
