NFL Rumors: Mike Vrabel Eyed by Falcons amid Bill Belichick Buzz; Seahawks Linked

The Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks are both "interested in talking and meeting" with former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Vrabel is interviewing with the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

The Falcons have already been quite busy in the interview process, holding meetings with former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and current Michigan head honcho Jim Harbaugh.

The Falcons have additionally held interviews with Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and assistant head coach and defensive line coach Anthony Weaver, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and most recently Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson.

Belichick is the current front-runner, however, and will reportedly hold a second meeting with the team this weekend:

But Vrabel, 48, is probably on the second tier of high-profile coaching targets behind Belichick and Harbaugh. In six seasons with the Titans, he went 54-45, leading the team to three playoff berths and a trip to the AFC Championship Game in 2019.

Whereas former head coach Arthur Smith brought an offensive background to Atlanta—he was Vrabel's offensive coordinator for two seasons in Tennessee—hiring Vrabel would bring a more defensive-minded head coach into the mix.

That would make Vrabel's potential hire at offensive coordinator very important, while the entire offseason will likely hinge on who the team brings in at quarterback after Desmond Ridder struggled in his second season.

The potential for an explosive offense is there, with young playmakers in running back Bijan Robinson, wideout Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts. The hope will be that the right combination of coach, offensive coordinator and quarterback will unlock that upside.

As for the Chargers, former head coach Brandon Staley also came from a defensive background, so Vrabel would be something of a similar hire (albeit with far more success as a head coach).

Everything revolves around maximizing the potential of young star Justin Herbert, and it would be interesting to see if Vrabel would keep Kellen Moore as the offensive coordinator to provide some continuity for his quarterback.

Finally, Seattle is transitioning away from longtime head coach Pete Carroll, and an experienced hire like Vrabel would potentially make that shift a bit more seamless. Seattle's major question mark heading into the offseason is the quarterback position, where Geno Smith regressed somewhat after his breakthrough 2022 season and is now 33.

He's also under contract for two more seasons, but the team will need to identify his successor in the near future.