Jets Urged to Hire Former Super Bowl Champ With ‘Presence’

The New York Jets find themselves in an unusual position heading into Week 11 of the NFL season. At 3-7, they are not mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, but optimism is in short supply.

After firing head coach Robert Saleh unexpectedly on October 8th following a loss to the Minnesota Vikings, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich took over. However, there has been little change in terms of production or efficiency, and it's unclear whether Ulbrich will be considered for the full-time role.

As the Jets slowly begin thinking ahead to the offseason, names are already being tossed around for potential head coaching candidates. One that has been brought up is Mike Vrabel, the three-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots and former head coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2018-2024. On the "Pat McAfee Show," Ty Schmidt suggested Vrabel as the ideal candidate for the Jets' job.

"Go hire Vrabel. They have the pieces in place, he's a guy who can come in and actually establish a culture," Schmidt said. "They need to get someone in there who has an established program. They have a bunch of talent in place... go hire Vrabel."

"The New York Jets need to hire Mike Vrabel"@tyschmit#PMSLivepic.twitter.com/UvOE4w6J1V

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 14, 2024

When asked by the media if he'd like to play in 2025, Aaron Rodgers expressed confidence that he could see himself continuing his career. The team has made moves to improve by trading for his longtime teammate, Davante Adams, and they boast a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball. However, despite these assets, they've struggled to perform at a high level consistently.

Aaron Rodgers says that this season has not changed his opinion on playing in 2025 and that he still thinks he wants to play next year: pic.twitter.com/1OldVNuvW9

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) November 13, 2024

The head coaching hire will be crucial moving forward, and Mike Vrabel certainly stands out as a potential fit. Vrabel brings a brash, honest, and winning mentality that could be exactly what the Jets need to build a strong foundation and culture .

During his time with the Titans, Vrabel posted a solid 54-45 record and led the team to three consecutive playoff appearances, including a near-miss at an AFC Championship in 2021, where they lost to the Cincinnati Bengals on a game-winning field goal.

The Jets' head coaching search is expected to be a major storyline moving forward, and owner Woody Johnson and GM Joe Douglas have yet to make any indications on when they will begin that process or whether interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, who has garnered support from the locker room, could be a candidate to keep the job.