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Bill Belichick or a first hire?

Vaseline October 8, 2024

In addressing mounting concerns following the New York Jets’ 2-3 start, coach Robert Saleh emphasized Monday that there was still plenty of time left in the season and that “no one in the building is panicking.”

A day later, owner Woody Johnson seemingly made it clear that he has a different perspective.

The Jets fired Saleh on Tuesday in an abrupt turn for a franchise that planned to push for a Super Bowl title — or at least the franchise’s first playoff berth in 14 years. But in Aaron Rodgers’ long-awaited return to action after his debut campaign was cut short by a torn Achilles just four plays into his first game, New York showed few signs of progress. The offense scored as many points (93) as it did in the first five games of last season, with Zach Wilson under center, while Rodgers and the last-seeded rushing attack both wave their hands.

With defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich taking over as interim coach, Gang Green will try to salvage what’s left of this season. But the move also puts the spotlight on 2025, when the team will land the most anticipated signing of that offseason cycle.

Barring a turnaround from Rodgers, who said this spring he is “hopeful” he can play several more seasons, the Jets appear likely to remain focused on making the most of their current competitive window, even at the expense of the long term. prospects. However, that creates an interesting dynamic when finding a new hire. While owner Woody Johnson would undoubtedly like to identify the next Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan with an excellent play-caller to overhaul the offense, such a move would almost certainly entail entrusting the franchise to a new head coach who has not yet spent any money long in the assistant ranks. Meanwhile, most of the more established names have come from the defensive side of the ball and should bring in a trusted figure to reconfigure things with Rodgers and the rest of the offense.

Here are the top head coaching candidates for the Jets after Saleh’s firing:

Jets leads coaching candidates

Bill Belichick

Of course, the six-time Super Bowl winner will loom over every head coaching opening. By becoming the first team with a vacancy at their top job, the Jets will become an immediate source of speculation for a potential reunion with Belichick. Strictly from a personnel perspective, it’s easy to see why Belichick would be tempted to put his decades-long distaste for the franchise on the table and give it a second chance, nearly 25 years after his “I’m resigning as HC of the NYJ” had scribbled on a napkin. (Belichick also had a stint as the team’s interim coach before Bill Parcells was officially hired in 1997.) And for a franchise that has been openly in win-now mode since Rodgers’ arrival, he’s turning to the 72 year-old former architect of the New England Patriots dynasty would represent the ultimate “all-in” moment.

Still, there’s a big question as to how Belichick would adapt to the Jets’ ecosystem — or vice versa — given his past experiences with virtually unchecked levels of power. And while Belichick and Rodgers have a healthy respect for each other, can the two maverick leaders find a way to build a working relationship? And given how the end of his Patriots tenure unfolded and the rampant offensive struggles that plagued the coach in the post-Tom Brady landscape, there could be several elements that give the Jets pause for thought about this move.

Ben Johnson

Arguably the hottest coaching candidate on the market, Johnson has taken a critical approach. He left the last two cycles to return to his post with the Detroit Lions. With the Lions offense still going strong despite some early red zone struggles, Johnson should once again be a fixture on the head coach interview circuit. The big question: What will it take for the 38-year-old to make the leap, and can the Jets provide that? This will be one of the biggest pressure cooker jobs to come open, and the baggage could scare Johnson. For the Jets, however, bringing on board a play-caller with Johnson’s creativity is immediately appealing, even though he may need a former NFL head coach as a steadying hand to help reset things in the locker room.

Bobby Slowik

Another offensive prodigy, 37-year-old Slowik, emerged as a hot name last season after masterminding a high-powered offense for then-rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans. It wouldn’t be until his second year in the offensive coordinator role that he would make a significant career leap, but it’s one he’s on the right track to, and sooner rather than later. There is significant upside in bringing in another smart play-caller. But again, questions will remain about whether this is the right place for a rookie coach given the focus on maximizing the next two years.

Joe Brady

Perhaps it’s premature to bring up the possibility of the 35-year-old offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills as a possibility to boss the 40-year-old Rodgers and the rest of the Jets. Still, there’s no denying that Brady has provided some serious momentum to the Josh Allen-led offense since he was installed in the role midway through last year. Under Brady, the Bills’ offense has proven to be very flexible, with the ability to unleash Allen’s unique physical talents as a passer and runner while utilizing the ground game. Schematically, Brady’s affinity for pre-snap motion could be something that needs to be resolved. Rodgers has come around to the idea of using the tactic more often after resisting it for much of his career, but further acclimation would likely be needed given the extent to which Brady employs it.

Mike Vrabel

Perhaps there is a middle ground for the Jets if previous head coaching experience is a priority. Vrabel was fired by the Tennessee Titans in January after compiling a 54-45 record and leading the team to three playoff appearances from 2019-2021. After failing to get another top job, he joined the Cleveland Browns as a coaching and personnel consultant. It goes without saying that a 49-year-old former head coach with an extensive track record would have a lot of allure for any franchise looking to get back on track. But the fit might not be perfect for the Jets, given Vrabel’s defensive orientation and the Titans’ anachronistic, run-heavy approach under his reign.

Brian Flores

The prospect of combining Flores’ tricky scheme with the Jets’ elite defensive staff should be attractive to any franchise. Still, any idea of hiring the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator extends well beyond X and O. Flores is still pursuing a racial discrimination lawsuit against the NFL and several of its teams, even though little progress has been made since the filing the case in February 2022. His candidacy for a potential opening is undoubtedly complicated by that move, as well as recent comments from Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who appeared to criticize Flores for the tone the coach set during his time in charge of the franchise.

Frank Smith

If Gang Green wants to find a figure who will resonate in the locker room, it will be difficult to find a better candidate than Smith, who was voted the best offensive coordinator in an NFL Players Association poll conducted earlier this year published. While Mike McDaniel is the play-caller and offensive brains of the Miami Dolphins, Smith is praised for his acumen and communication skills. The big X-factor, as always, would be how he could co-exist alongside Rodgers.

Aaron Glenn

It’s probably unrealistic for a defensive coach with no prior experience leading a team to get the nod here, considering everything this franchise faces. But Glenn, who was a first-round pick by the Jets and earned two Pro Bowl nominations during eight years with the team, could help realign the culture after serving as Dan Campbell’s defensive coordinator for the Lions. He’s probably the biggest gamble on this list, but he’s definitely worth considering.

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Bill Belichick or a first hire?