Another NFL coach heading to college football? Speculations are already booming for the Cleveland Browns coaching and personnel assistant Mike Vrabel. Now that he’s seeking a new coaching position, some analysts feel that he might apply for the head coaching roles with the Las Vegas Raiders or Dallas Cowboys if they fire their HCs. But Ohio State has also emerged as part of the conversation because of Vrabel’s connection with the Buckeyes and Ryan Day’s ambiguous future. 

Outback Hot Mic hosts Jonathan Hutton and Chad Withrow explored Mike Vrabel’s future in a new YouTube episode on Outkick on December 19. Hutton said, “[Vrable]’s gonna get a job. Any job that he wants and he’s taking his time but I can tell you right now, he doesn’t want to go door-to-door recruiting, he doesn’t want to be involved in having to negotiate anything or dealing with the entire list of reasons why we never thought Bill Belichick would go to college and coach college football.”

Withrow also added to his co-host’s opinion saying that the former Tennessee Titans HC “doesn’t want to the job of the general manager.” He said, “What he wants is VETO power… He wants someone who thinks like him as the GM and someone that ultimately if there is a disagreement, the tie is always going to go to the head coach in Mike Vrabel. That’s the power he wants.” And the connection he has with Ohio State could give him that power. 

As ESPN’s Dan Graziano also reported, there are “rumblings that Vrabel could be a top candidate” at Ohio State. Mike Vrabel played college football at Ohio State from 1993-96 and went on to win three Super Bowls in the NFL. After his professional career, he returned to Columbus and served as the Buckeyes’ LB coach and DL coach before moving on to coach the NFL. This familiarity coupled with their current HC’s precarious situation has put the NFL coach in a great position to replace Ryan Day in case the worst scenario happens. 

Can Ryan Day salvage his career in Ohio State?

We all know Ryan Day is already in a big fix. He didn’t make a conference title appearance. He wasn’t able to beat their rival Michigan for the fourth straight time. Still, Ohio State AD Ross Bjork hasn’t given any public statement about their situation. But Day still has a chance to salvage his career if he managed to reach and win the national championship. But that path is strewn with challenges. 

Right now, Ohio State holds the No. 8 seed and will host No. 9 Tennessee at Ohio Stadium on Saturday. If they win over the Volunteers, they’ll have to face No. 1 Oregon in the playoff quarterfinals. And if they fall along the way, it would be difficult to picture Ryan Day for another season. When the Titans fired Vrabel in 2023, he became highly touted to steal Ryan Day’s job in Columbus. 

So, if the opportunity presents itself, we never know but Ohio State might have a new HC. The next few weeks will be crucial in deciding the future of Ryan Day.