Mike Vrabel was viewed as a hot commodity during this latest NFL coaching cycle.
But even with his impressive resume during his time as Titans head coach, Vrabel reportedly told several teams to not bother with a thorough interview process with them — especially with New England opening up their head-coaching position.
The Raiders felt like another potential fit for Vrabel after firing head coach Antonio Pierce, given Vrabel’s evident ties with Las Vegas minority owner Tom Brady.
But the Raiders were one of the few teams with a coaching vacancy to not schedule an interview with Vrabel before he took the job in New England.
But the reason for that radio silence was reportedly not due to a lack of interest from Brady and the Raiders.
“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 and running their coaching search,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said Sunday on “The Insiders.” “My understanding is the Raiders never requested an interview or tried to bring Mike Vrabel in because Vrabel essentially told Tom Brady, ‘I’m gonna end up going back to New England.’
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“Other teams were aware that was the likely landing spot for Mike Vrabel for quite some time.”
The Raiders will have several options to turn to following Vrabel’s decision, headlined by Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
“[Johnson] has quickly emerged as the candidate to watch for Las Vegas, as the Raiders — in a search that prominently includes limited partner Tom Brady — are willing to wait as long as it takes to secure their potential future head coach,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote Saturday.
“Jed Hughes of the firm Korn Ferry is assisting with that search, according to me and NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo,” Rapoport added. “Las Vegas is said to be enamored with Johnson, sources say.
