Raiders Rumors: Mike Vrabel HC Interview Not Scheduled Despite Tom Brady Connection

Mike Vrabel may be former New England Patriots teammates with Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady, but that doesn't mean the AFC West team is automatically going to interview him for its head-coaching vacancy.

Vic Tafur of The Athletic reported Thursday that Las Vegas has not set up an interview with Vrabel, who remains one of the most notable names of the coaching cycle.

Vrabel and Brady played together on the Patriots from 2001 through 2008. The team won three Super Bowls during that stretch, and it was easy to assume the legendary quarterback might try to bring his former teammate in after the Raiders fired Antonio Pierce.

That was especially the case after Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported Brady was expected to have "a lot" of influence in the Raiders' search for their next coach.

Vrabel would seem like a logical candidate given the connection in place and his experience. He was the head coach of the Tennessee Titans for six seasons and went 54-45 while reaching the playoffs three times and taking home the 2021 Coach of the Year.

He also led Tennessee to the AFC Championship Game during the 2019 campaign.

Yet Las Vegas probably isn't the most desirable destination for a coaching candidate at this point. The Raiders are coming off a 4-13 season, don't have a franchise quarterback in place and select at No. 6 overall in the 2025 NFL draft, which means they may miss on top prospects such as Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.

What's more, the AFC West is loaded with three other playoff teams in the division in the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos. Any coach taking over in Las Vegas will be facing an uphill battle to remain in the postseason picture for the foreseeable future.

By comparison, openings such as the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears and Patriots all have young, franchise quarterbacks in place that may appeal to Vrabel and other candidates.

Mark Daniels of MassLive said he believes Vrabel is New England's "top target," and returning to the franchise that helped him win so many Lombardi Trophies may be appealing to the coach as well.

For now, it seems as if the Raiders will be looking elsewhere to find their next head coach while Vrabel is seen as a leading candidate for other teams.