The New England Patriots officially announced the hiring of Mike Vrabel as the franchise’s 16th head coach. Not shockingly, they weren’t the only team interested in Vrabel’s services.
Las Vegas Raiders Continue Coaching Search
The Chicago Bears and New York Jets both made “late pushes” to hire him. One team that never made a serious run at Vrabel was the Las Vegas Raiders, despite his deep ties to Raiders minority owner Tom Brady, his former teammate in New England.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport spilled the beans on why Las Vegas never entered into earnest talks for Vrabel, pin-pointing the decision on a conversation he had with Brady.
Vrabel — a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots — bluntly told his old friend that he had already made up his mind to return to New England. There was no wiggle room. The decision was final.
Rapoport said, “The most rumored landing spot for Mike Vrabel for months was with the Las Vegas Raiders, considering they have his old friend and teammate Tom Brady there as the minority owner, running the current head coaching search.
“My understanding is the Raiders never requested an interview or tried to bring Mike Vrabel in because Vrabel essentially told Tom Brady I’m going to end up going to New England. Other teams were aware that was the likely landing spot for Mike Vrabel for quite some time.”
Breaking news from The Insiders on @NFLGameDay with @MikeGarafolo and @TomPelissero: The #Patriots are hiring Mike Vrabel as their new coach, sources say. We took a look at all that it means. pic.twitter.com/9rbjlxLUwB
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 12, 2025
The Raiders are embarking upon their eighth head-coaching search since 2011 after firing Antonio Pierce on Jan. 7. The rumor mill has been ripe with speculation — everyone from Pete Carroll to Robert Saleh to Deion Sanders has been mentioned at least in passing — as the Las Vegas front office sorts through all possible candidates.
Here are some key names to monitor as the search continues …
- Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator: The Raiders will interview Johnson on Friday, Jan.10 (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). It should be noted that Tom Brady has been “imploring” Johnson to seriously consider joining the Raiders’ organization, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Lions ranked No. 1 in points per game (33.2) and No. 2 in yards per game (409.5) in 2024.
Raiders minority owner Tom Brady has been “imploring” Lions OC Ben Johnson to consider the Raiders HC opening, per @RapSheet. pic.twitter.com/fveFVfB9nz
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) January 12, 2025
- Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator: The Raiders will interview Glenn on Friday, Jan. 10 (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter).
- Steve Spagnuolo, Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator: The Raiders have requested permission to interview Spagnuolo (via ESPN’s Dianna Russini).
- Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator: The Raiders have requested permission to interview Monken (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport).
- Robert Saleh, former New York Jets head coach: The Raiders will interview Saleh on Thursday, Jan. 16 (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport).
- Pete Carroll, former Seattle Seahawks head coach: The Raiders will interview Carroll at some point next week (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter).