Long-time Jets rival and Super Bowl winner is ‘interested in coaching New York… but with a condition’

At least one former New England Patriot is interested in coaching the rival New York Jets.

And that man, according to Rich Cimini of ESPNis former NFL linebacker and Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.

In his podcast Flight Deck with Rich Cimini, the veteran Jets beat writer explained that Vrabel is willing to replace fired Robert Saleh with Gang Green, but on one condition: the three-time Super Bowl winner wants to know who New York’s successor is. will be general manager.

Team owner Woody Johnson fired general manager Joe Douglas in November – a month after releasing Saleh following a 2-3 start. Jeff Ulbrich has gone just 1-6 as interim head coach.

Vrabel was fired in Nashville last January after six seasons with the Titans, whom he took to the AFC Title Game in 2019. During his time at Tennessee, Vrabel went 54-45. Interestingly, the Titans have struggled without Vrabel, going just 3-9 this year – the same record as the woeful Jets.

Vrabel is now a coaching and personnel consultant with the Cleveland Browns and played under legendary Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who is largely despised in Jets circles.

Vrabel is congratulated by head coach Bill Belichick after 2020 playoff win at Foxborough

Belichick famously retired from coaching the Jets in 2000, but signed in New England, where he won six Super Bowls while tormenting his division rival in New York.

Additionally, Belichick’s disdain for the Jets and Johnson is well documented, but that doesn’t worry Vrabel.

As Cimini reports, he doesn’t care if his mentor hates the organization in Florham Park, New Jersey. He’s still willing to interview and find out for himself.

Of course, the next Jets coach will clean up after the disastrous 2024 campaign, which was particularly difficult for quarterback and one-time perceived franchise savior, Aaron Rodgers.

The 41-year-old told reporters this week that he would like to return to the Jets next season, but does not view the remaining games on the schedule as an audition for 2025.

“If they want me to stay, fantastic,” Rodgers said on Wednesday. “If it takes five games, they might not know what I have to offer.

“But having said that, I would really like to play really well in the last five games.”

Rodgers is under contract for next season with a salary cap hit of $23.5 million, which will be about 9 percent of the team’s potential payroll for the season.

One source told Cimini they would be “shocked” if Johnson agreed to bring Rodgers back in 2025. Meanwhile, NFL Network reported that Rodgers will need a strong finish to get a chance to return next season.