Former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel is widely regarded as one of the top coaching candidates in the NFL this hiring cycle, but there are indications that he may have his sights set on a college football position instead.
Vrabel played his college football at Ohio State from 1993 to 1996 and began his coaching career with the Buckeyes in 2011, staying on the staff until 2013.
Ohio State is currently led by head coach Ryan Day. However, following a fourth consecutive loss to rival Michigan and a disappointing season despite having one of the most talented rosters in college football, many speculate that Day could be on the hot seat heading into a College Football Playoff matchup with the Tennessee Volunteers, although athletic director Ross Bjork expressed confidence in Day earlier this month.
If Ohio State decides to part ways with Day, Vrabel might be a candidate for the position.
On Tuesday’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show, ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky suggested that Vrabel could be eyeing the Buckeyes’ head coaching role for next season.
“I think Vrabel’s spoken for,” Orlovsky said. “I just think that Vrabel’s probably got a very clear sight and path with where he is going to be likely coaching. He’ll be coaching football.”
Although Orlovsky didn’t reveal many specifics, McAfee and his crew pressed him for more details, asking if he was referring to the NFL or college football. Someone on the show even joked that Orlovsky was hinting that Vrabel might take the Ohio State job, prompting the crew to break into an “O-H-I-O” cheer.
Orlovsky didn’t confirm the speculation, but he certainly didn’t deny it either as he sat there with a sly smile on his face.
“I think that there’s a vision for where he kind of likely ends up coaching next year,” Orlovsky said. “I’m not a reporter. Listen, I’ve come on your show before, and I said I’ve heard something, and it got me in a lot of trouble, so I’m trying not to do that.”
It’s obviously a massive suggestion from Orlovsky, but he’s not the only one suggesting that Vrabel would be open to coaching Ohio State.
Since Orlovsky’s comments, at least four separate Ohio State reporters have independently confirmed that Vrabel would be interested in the head coach position if it became available, including one reporter who was previously adamant that Vrabel was not considering the job.
“Here is what I will say. Right now the intention for both OSU and Ryan Day are for Day to be in Columbus as HC next season. IF that does change, I do think Mike Vrabel would now be a realistic candidate to replace Day,” Alex Gleitman of On3 reported.
“I previously was pretty adamant about that scenario not being realistic, but some new info I have is that I do think Vrabel would be open to coming to college if it were Ohio State. Again, plan as of today is for Day to be back but if that isn’t the case for some reason after the CFP, I do think Vrabel is a real option”
For now, Day remains the head coach at Ohio State. But it certainly looks like Vrabel is interested in taking the job if it becomes available.
