Jets Missed Chance to Hire Coach Mike Vrabel Before Patriots

New York, NY – A missed opportunity may haunt the New York Jets this season as reports reveal that head coach Mike Vrabel was a prime candidate for the team’s coaching position last offseason. According to prominent sports reporter Connor Hughes, the Jets were highly interested in Vrabel, now at the helm of the New England Patriots.

On a recent episode of SNY‘s sports show, Hughes shared that the Jets even made a late effort to persuade Vrabel before he accepted the Patriots job. “The Jets interviewed Mike Vrabel and I cannot express how much they loved him, and they wanted him,” Hughes explained. “They made a last-second call to say, ‘Is there anything we can do to give you this job?’”

Vrabel interviewed with the Jets on January 3 before taking the Patriots position on January 12. Hughes stated, “He did not use the Jets as this toy. He was as interested in the Jets as the Jets were interested in him. If the Patriots job had not opened, I genuinely believe that Mike Vrabel was going to take the Jets job.”

While the Jets were exploring their options, other candidates included former NFL head coaches such as Ron Rivera and Rex Ryan. In the end, they chose Aaron Glenn as their new head coach. Meanwhile, Vrabel has found success with the Patriots, leading them to an 8-2 record this season and into contention for the playoffs.

As the Jets prepare to face the Patriots tonight on “Thursday Night Football,” they currently sit at 2-7 after trading key players Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner at the NFL Trade Deadline. In contrast, the Patriots are riding a seven-game winning streak, aiming for their first eight-game streak since 2019.

The game will be critical for both teams, with the Jets hoping to turn their season around and the Patriots looking to solidify their lead in the AFC East.