Patriots schedule Mike Vrabel interview with Jets in pursuit

The inevitable is happening this week in New England.Mike Vrabel is scheduled to interview for the Patriots’ vacant head coaching job on Thursday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported.Vrabel, one of the hottest commodities on the coaching market, played eight of his 14 seasons as a pro in New England, won three Super Bowl titles and was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2023.The former Titans head coach interviewed for the Jets job last week, and it went “very well,” according to multiple reports.The Athletic reported Tuesday that Vrabel is the Jets’ No.

1 target as they seek a full-time head coach.However, any dreams of Vrabel leading Gang Green were likely already dampened once the Patriots fired Jerod Mayo on Sunday after just one season at the helm.CBS Sports reported Sunday that Vrabel’s interview with the Jets — which came before Mayo’s ouster — was to make the Patriots feel pressure about making a decision over their head coaching future.Vrabel started his head coaching career with the Titans in 2018 and put together four straight winning seasons, culminating in a 12-5 2021 campaign that saw him land AP Coach of the Year.But those halcyon days in Tennessee didn’t last and after two seasons of sub-.500 play, Vrabel was let go after 2023.Former Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson said on NBC Sports Boston this week that Vrabel, his former teammate, would be far and away the best choice for the team.“I would say, first off, if they were to ask me who’s the smartest player you ever played with, I’d say it was Mike Vrabel and it wasn’t even close,” Johnson said.The Patriots have been busy in their search and have already interviewed Pep Hamilton and Byron Leftwich.

They are also expected to interview Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, one of the hottest candidates this cycle.Vrabel is keeping his options open, as the Boston Herald reported that he’s interviewing with the Bears on Wednesday....