Unlike Belichick, a one-year sabbatical should do little to hurt Vrabel's coaching stock, and he might already be eyeing up situations where the head coach is on the hot seat in 2024.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears jump out in that respect because they each have a coach widely assumed to be on shaky ground and offer something attractive to a prospective replacement.
The Eagles are only a year removed from winning the NFC, and Jalen Hurts showed his 2022 breakout wasn't a fluke. His performance dipped a bit, but that still translated to 3,858 passing yards, 605 rushing yards and 38 total touchdowns. Having Hurts gives you a leg up on the competition even if a roster reshuffle is required in 2025.
For the Bears, an offense centered around USC star Caleb Williams would make up for their recent futility. Another disappointing season might mean more than just a coaching change, too, with general manager Ryan Poles facing increasing scrutiny. A coach such as Vrabel might prefer to be hired in tandem with the GM to ensure a strong connection between the two.
Of course, a return to his alma mater can't be ruled out for the 48-year-old.
Were Ryan Day to be fired by Ohio State, Vrabel would immediately jump to the fanbase's wish list. In addition, there's little doubt as to whether the school could make it worth his while financially.
The big question is whether Vrabel would want to assume the year-round grind that working for a program as prominent as the Buckeyes requires.
