3 post-playing career paths for Wilfork

Vince Wilfork is retiring. One of the best the game has ever seen around these parts, he’s now freed up to try a variety of different things as he enters the next stage of his life. From our perspective, here are three post-career possibilities.

1) Restaurateur: Open a restaurant/BBQ pit at Patriot Place, and become New England’s answer to Boog Powell. A grillmaster of the highest order, the aroma of freshly-cooked ribs wafting through Gillette Stadium would be awesome. He’s a Kingsford pitchman. If they can pull off a sweet deal and then land a spot in Foxborough, it would seems like a natural move for the big man.

2) Analyst: Wilfork was always expansive with the media, and his straightforward approach would translate nicely to television. Give him his own talk-show segment on “Patriots All Access.” Name it “Point Blank with Vince Wilfork,” playing off his favorite phrase. TV gold. Never one to shy away from what he really meant, his occasionally salty language could mean he'd have to be relegated to a spot on cable at night. But he’d make that work too.

3) Coach: The sight of him on the field with Matt Patricia and Bill Belichick got us thinking about the possibility of Wilfork the coach. The one thing that’s worth mentioning here is that he was able to command respect from players on both sides of the ball, a vital trait for any player interested in going into coaching. It’s a path that’s already been followed by some of his contemporaries, including Mike Vrabel. If he’s willing to put the time in, his leadership skills and smarts would make him a natural in the sidelines.