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Let the speculation begin because there is reportedly another head-coaching vacancy in the NFL.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday that the Las Vegas Raiders decided to fire Antonio Pierce after he met with team owner Mark Davis.
It didn’t take long for social media to start wondering whether this will lead to Las Vegas hiring Mike Vrabel, especially since he is a former teammate of one of the club’s part owners in Tom Brady:
Mark Daniels @ByMarkDaniels
Will be interested to see their level of interest in Mike Vrabel, who I believe is the Patriots top target. Can Tom Brady sway him? https://t.co/0zKswUKam6
Tony LoConte @BradyDisciple
now Kraft gotta hustle, because one of his biggest blunders was letting Brady buy into the Raiders, and now he is going to be going after Vrabel too https://t.co/TC0lb94Al0
Albert Breer @AlbertBreer
Last year, Tom Brady’s presence at the final practice of the Raiders season led some in the organization to believe Mike Vrabel was on his way. It didn’t happen, but the Brady/Seymour/Vrabel connection is one that’s lingered there.
Vrabel could get plenty of control in Vegas. https://t.co/Bv2DiRBv2X
Savage @SavageSports_
Tom Brady will have a lot of influence over who the Raiders choose as their next head coach.
Per: @DMRussini
Can they convince Mike Vrabel?? pic.twitter.com/HNvrmJOBfp
Willy Razo @bigwillystyl
Before we go all in on Mike Vrabel @Raiders please please please reach out to Ben Johnson because I’m tired of retreads and whatever you do please don’t bring back Gruden. #RaiderNation
Alec Nolan @AlecABC30
If you want to utilize Brady as an owner, get Mike Vrabel on the phone.
For the better part of 22 years, the Raiders have been an embarrassing product. The autumn wind has not been a pirate for a long time. https://t.co/lZjYoAhJWg
Brady and Vrabel were teammates with the New England Patriots from 2001 through 2008 and won three Super Bowls together, so there is already a connection in place.
Yet New England is also one of the teams looking for a head coach after firing Jerod Mayo, so Brady may find himself competing against his former team when it comes to hiring Vrabel.
Vrabel remains one of the names generating the most buzz during the ongoing coaching cycle for good reason. The 2021 Coach of the Year went 54-45 during six seasons at the helm with the Tennessee Titans from 2018 through 2023 and reached the playoffs three straight times during that span.
The 2019 Titans went to the AFC Championship Game with Ryan Tannehill at quarterback and a defense that was 21st in the league in yards allowed, so he has a track record of overachieving with rosters that may not be the best in the NFL.
That is surely appealing to the Raiders considering they are coming off a 4-13 effort in 2024, which marked their third straight losing season.
There is uncertainty when it comes to the long-term plans at the quarterback position, and some of the top prospects in the draft such as Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders may not be available by the time they select at No. 6 overall.
Finding a coach who could maximize the result on a team that isn’t as talented as its divisional foes in the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos could be an important offseason goal, and Vrabel may be the answer.
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