Jets Rumors: Mike Vrabel Interview Went 'Really, Really Well' amid HC Search

The New York Jets reportedly had a positive head coaching interview with Mike Vrabel this week.

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the interview went "really, really well," although the expectation is that Vrabel will take interviews with other teams next week as well, including the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints.

The Jets announced Friday that they had completed an interview with the former Tennessee Titans head coach.

New York, on the other hand, interviewed Ron Rivera for the job on Thursday, with plans to meet with former head coach Rex Ryan, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

NFL insider Josina Anderson also reported the Jets have internally discussed possible interviews with Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

After spending 14 seasons as an NFL linebacker with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, and winning three Super Bowls during his career, Vrabel transitioned into coaching.

He was a linebackers coach and defensive line coach at his alma mater at Ohio State, and then served as the Houston Texans' linebackers coach and defensive coordinator.

Vrabel got his big break as a head coach when the Titans hired him in 2018, and he enjoyed a great deal of success over his six seasons with the organization, going 54-45, winning two division titles and reaching the playoffs three times.

However, after going 7-10 in 2022 and 6-11 in 2023, the Titans decided to move on from the highly touted coach.

Vrabel spent this season as a coaching and personnel consultant with the Cleveland Browns, but all signs point toward him getting a second head coaching opportunity during this hiring cycle.

The Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start this season, and interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich hasn't fared any better, posting a 2-9 mark entering Sunday's season finale against the Miami Dolphins.

New York is in the midst of the longest active playoff drought in the NFL at 14 consecutive seasons, meaning there is a great deal of pressure to get the next head coaching hire right.

As of right now, the Jets do not have a general manager due to the firing of Joe Douglas, but the fact that head coaching interviews are being held means the coach could potentially be chosen before the GM.

Among other Jets head coaching candidates, Rivera went 102-103-2 with one Super Bowl appearance in 13 seasons as head coach of the Carolina Panthers and Washington Commanders from 2011 to 2023. He is also a two-time NFL Coach of the Year.

Before going 15-16 in two seasons as head coach of the Buffalo Bills from 2015 to 2016, Ryan was the Jets' head coach from 2009 to 2014.

Ryan went just 46-50 in New York and didn't reach the playoffs in any of his final four seasons with the team, but he took the Jets to the AFC Championship Game in each of his first two seasons and is the last coach to bring the Jets to the postseason.