Jets interview Vrabel for head coaching job

NFL REPORT

Former Titans coach is second interview to replace fired Saleh

Then-Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel argues a call during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Jan. 7, 2024 in Nashville, Tenn. GEORGE WALKER IV — ASSOCIATED PRESS

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The New York Jets interviewed former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel on Friday for their head coaching vacancy.

Vrabel is the second known coaching candidate to meet with the Jets, who announced they completed their interview with him. New York also spoke to former Washington and Carolina coach Ron Rivera on Thursday.

Vrabel is expected to be a highly sought candidate during this hiring cycle, and New York got a chance to sit down with him early in the process. New Orleans and Chicago also fired their coaches during the season and will likely be among the teams joining the Jets in searching for replacements.

The 49-year-old Vrabel served in a consultant role with Cleveland this season, but his contract expired earlier this week — allowing him to interview with other teams. The one-time All-Pro linebacker who helped New England win three Super Bowl titles was 56-48 in six seasons as coach of the Titans, including 2-3 in the postseason. He was fired by Tennessee after a 6-11 finish last season.

The Jets fired coach Robert Saleh on Oct. 8 when the team was 2-3 and replaced him on an interim basis with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who is 2-9 heading into New York’s season finale Sunday at home against Miami.

Ulbrich said Friday he expects to be given an opportunity next week to interview for the head coach job.

“I, for sure, look forward to that,” he said. “But at the same time, I’m in my feet right now. I’ve got to finish the season right and these players deserve everything I have.”

Linebacker Jamien Sherwood, voted the Jets’ MVP by his teammates, said Ulbrich “most definitely” should get a shot at the full-time job.

“I feel like Brick was put in a compromising position,” Sherwood said. “You know, it happened midway through the season. I feel like things would look different if he had it from the start. Again, there’s no excuses, obviously.

“I just feel like as players, we’ve got to go out there and play better for him. I feel like he did everything he needed to do when he was put in the limelight.”

General manager Joe Douglas was fired six weeks after Saleh, and the Jets have also begun their search for his replacement. New York has interviewed Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy, former Atlanta Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, former Tennessee Titans GM Jon Robinson and ESPN analyst Louis Riddick for the GM job.

Getsy helping Packers prepare for playoffs

Luke Getsy is returning to the roots and helping the Green Bay Packers after getting fired as the Las Vegas Raiders’ offensive coordinator earlier this season.

Getsy had worked on Green Bay’s staff from 2014-17 and again from 2019-21. Now he’s helping out from a different perspective by monitoring the Packers’ defense.

Getsy attended Green Bay’s practice Friday as the playoff-bound Packers (11-5) prepare for their regular-season finale with the Chicago Bears (4-12). Getsy was the Bears’ offensive coordinator from 2022-23 and filled the same role with Las Vegas this year.

The Raiders fired Getsy along with quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello and offensive line coach James Cregg on Nov. 3 after a 41-24 loss at Cincinnati.