Leading contender for Chicago Bears job emerges after season hits a new low with Minnesota Vikings loss
Former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel is atop several teams’ Christmas lists, according to Spots Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
The long-time NFL insider stopped short of revealing every team interested in Vrabel, but did specifically mention the Chicago Bears during a segment on Chicago’s ESPN 1000 radio station. What’s more, Breer said, Vrabel would consider bringing in Cleveland Browns tight end coach Tommy Rees or ex-Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator.
A former linebacker, Vrabel would be the logical choice to lead the Bears defense if he ended up taking the job.
The struggling Bears are in the market for a head coach after dismissing Matt Eberflus with the team sitting at 4-8. Since then, Chicago has dropped two straight under interim coach Thomas Brown.
There had been some optimism on the shores of Lake Michigan prior to the season. Not only did the Bears add a Heisman Trophy winner and first-overall pick in USC quarterback Caleb Williams, but the team gave him some skilled players to work with, including running back DeAndre Swift as well as receivers D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze.
Regardless, Williams has had an up-and-down rookie campaign, completing 61.9 percent of his passes for 17 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Unfortunately, he’s taken a league-worst 58 sacks.
Now a coaching and personnel consultant with the Cleveland Browns , Vrabel cut his teeth playing under legendary former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick
There had been some optimism on the shores of Lake Michigan prior to the season as the Chicago Bears added a Heisman Trophy winner and first pick in Caleb Williams (pictured)
In Monday’s 30-12 loss to the rival Minnesota Vikings, Williams tossed for 191 yards and a touchdown while completing just 18 of 31 passes for the game.
Vrabel has reportedly been keeping tabs on the New York Jets’ opening, according to an ESPN report from earlier this month. What’s more,
Vrabel was fired in Nashville last January after six season seasons with the Titans, whom he brought to the AFC Title Game in 2019. Over his time with Tennessee, Vrabel went 54-45. Interestingly, the Titans have struggled without Vrabel, going just 3-9 this year – the same record as the woeful Jets.
Now a coaching and personnel consultant with the Cleveland Browns , Vrabel cut his teeth playing under new North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick in New England.
Of course, the next Jets coach will be cleaning up after the disastrous 2024 campaign, which has been particularly difficult for quarterback and once-perceived franchise savior, Aaron Rodgers.
The 41-year-old told reporters this week that he'd be happy to return to the Jets next season, but doesn't see the remaining give games on the schedule as an audition for 2025.
'If they want me to stay, fantastic,' Rodgers said December 4. 'If it takes these five games, maybe they don´t know what I bring to the table.
'But that being said I´d love to play really friggin' well the last five games.'
Rodgers is under contract for next season at a salary-cap figure of $23.5 million, which will be about 9 percent of the team's potential payroll for the season.
One source told ESPN’s Rich Cimini they'd be 'shocked' if Johnson agreed to bring Rodgers back in 2025. Meanwhile, NFL Network reported that Rodgers will need a strong finish to get a chance at returning next season.
