Mike Vrabel Eyed as Raiders HC by NFL Fans After Pierce Firing amid Tom Brady Rumors

Let the speculation begin because there is reportedly another head-coaching vacancy in the NFL.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday that the Las Vegas Raiders decided to fire Antonio Pierce after he met with team owner Mark Davis.

It didn't take long for social media to start wondering whether this will lead to Las Vegas hiring Mike Vrabel, especially since he is a former teammate of one of the club's part owners in Tom Brady:

Brady and Vrabel were teammates with the New England Patriots from 2001 through 2008 and won three Super Bowls together, so there is already a connection in place.

Yet New England is also one of the teams looking for a head coach after firing Jerod Mayo, so Brady may find himself competing against his former team when it comes to hiring Vrabel.

Vrabel remains one of the names generating the most buzz during the ongoing coaching cycle for good reason. The 2021 Coach of the Year went 54-45 during six seasons at the helm with the Tennessee Titans from 2018 through 2023 and reached the playoffs three straight times during that span.

The 2019 Titans went to the AFC Championship Game with Ryan Tannehill at quarterback and a defense that was 21st in the league in yards allowed, so he has a track record of overachieving with rosters that may not be the best in the NFL.

That is surely appealing to the Raiders considering they are coming off a 4-13 effort in 2024, which marked their third straight losing season.

There is uncertainty when it comes to the long-term plans at the quarterback position, and some of the top prospects in the draft such as Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders may not be available by the time they select at No. 6 overall.

Finding a coach who could maximize the result on a team that isn't as talented as its divisional foes in the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos could be an important offseason goal, and Vrabel may be the answer.