https://sports.yahoo.com/latest-buzz-jets-head-coaching-145548447.html
Here’s the latest news and buzz as the Jets search for a new head coach…
Jan. 9, 8:06 p.m.
The Jets announced that they have completed an interview with Aaron Glenn.
Glenn, the Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator since 2021 and former Jet from 1994-2001, joins Mike Vrabel, Ron Rivera, Rex Ryan and Matt Nagy as potential candidates to have interviewed for New York’s head coaching vacancy, with others waiting in the wing.
Following his interview with the Jets, Glenn’s schedule will remain busy as the former cornerback has four more head coaching interviews lined up over the next two days, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Those teams are the New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears as New York was the first stop on his list.
One team not on Glenn’s list is the New England Patriots after he declined their interview request, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Jan. 8, 5:20 p.m.
The Jets have requested to interview Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo for their vacant head coaching job, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
Spagnuolo, 65, knows all about coaching in New York, as he served two stints as the Giants’ defensive coordinator (2007-08, 2015-17). He also served as Giants interim head coach for four games in 2017 and was the head coach for the St. Louis Rams from 2009-11.
While Spagnuolo’s record as a head coach is just 11-41, he’s long been considered one of the top defensive coordinators in the game, and has been a part of four Super Bowl championship teams, including the Giants in 2007.
The Las Vegas Raiders have also requested to interview Spagnuolo, per multiple reports.
Meanwhile, Chiefs OC Matt Nagy completed a virtual interview with the Jets. Nagy has had a couple of stints as an assistant in KC, and was the Bears’ head coach from 2018-21.
Jan. 7, 2:18 p.m.
The Jets announced that they have completed an interview with Rex Ryan.
Ryan, who has been working as an analyst for ESPN, is the most recent coach to take the Jets to the postseason, as he led the club to back-to-back AFC Championship appearances following the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
Ryan has recently said that he is very confident that he will land the job.
“Oh 100 percent. Absolutely I do,” Ryan said during an appearance on ESPN Radio. “And the reason I think I’m gonna get it is because I’m the best guy — and it ain’t close.”
Jan. 6, 12:52 p.m.
With the 2024 regular season now officially in the books, the Jets have begun requesting head coaching interviews with a wide variety of candidates.
According to reports, the Jets have requested interviews with:
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Steelers OC Arthur Smith
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Bills OC Joe Brady
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Vikings DC Brian Flores
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Broncos DC Vance Joseph
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Chiefs OC Matt Nagy
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Texans OC Bobby Slowik
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Vikings QB coach Josh McCown
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49ers QB coach Brian Griese
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Lions DC Aaron Glenn
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Saints interim HC Darren Rizzi
Meanwhile, the Jets will not request to interview Lions OC Ben Johnson, who does not have interest in the job, per SNY NFL Insider Connor Hughes.
The Jets have already interviewed Mike Vrabel and Ron Rivera, with Rex Ryan set to interview on Tuesday.
Jan. 6, 9:14 a.m.
The Jets have interest in interviewing Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, per multiple reports.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Bears and Saints also have interest in Glenn.
Glenn, 52, has been the Lions’ DC since 2021.
Before joining the Lions, Glenn had stints with the Saints (defensive backs coach from 2016-2020), and Browns (assistant defensive backs coach 2014-2015).
Glenn played with the Jets from 1994 to 2001 during a career that also included time with the Texans, Cowboys, Jaguars, and Saints.
Jan. 5, 11:50 a.m.
Heading into Sunday’s slate of Week 18 games, the top seed in the NFC is still up for grabs, and it could have implications as far as the Jets’ coaching search is concerned.
According to Peter Schrager of NFL Network and Fox Sports, it’s expected that coordinators from whichever team lands the No. 1 seed will interview with the Jets via Zoom at some point this week.
By rule, teams with a bye in the first round can have their coordinators interview during the bye week, but then not again until after their team is finished with their playoff run.
What that means is that if Detroit locks in the No. 1 seed, OC Ben Johnson, one of the hottest names available, and DC Aaron Glenn, could interview with the Jets this week. If Minnesota earns the top seed, defensive coordinator Brian Flores could interview with the Jets.
Schrager also reports that the Jets’ interview with Mike Vrabel went “very well,” with the team set to interview Rex Ryan in Palm Beach, Fla.
Jan. 4, 9:20 a.m.
After publicly expressing his interest in returning to the helm for the Jets, Rex Ryan is set to interview for the team’s head coaching job on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.
Ryan said on Dec. 30 during an appearance on ESPN New York radio that he expects to speak with Gang Green about the vacancy after the regular season ends, and now it appears he’ll get the chance to make his case.
He led the Jets from 2009 to 2014 (46-50), including back-to-back trips to the AFC Championship Game in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. New York has not been back to the playoffs since their 2011 AFC title game loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Following his time with the Jets, Ryan was head coach of the Buffalo Bills from 2015 to 2016. Since then, the 62-year-old has worked as a commentator for ESPN.
Over eight seasons as an NFL head coach, Ryan owns a 61-66 record.
Jan. 3, 2:03 p.m.
Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich expects to interview for the team’s full-time job, he told reporters on Friday.
Ulbrich will be on the sidelines on Sunday for the Jets’ season finale against the Dolphins at MetLife Stadium.
Since taking over for the fired Robert Saleh, Ulbrich has a record of 2-9.
It’s standard for interim head coaches to interview for the full-time gig, and it’s difficult to envision a scenario where Ulbrich’s tenure with the Jets continues beyond this season.
Jan. 3, 8:36 a.m.
Mike Vrabel interviewing on Friday at the Jets’ facility.
He is expected to be perhaps the most sought-after coaching candidate this offseason.
According to SNY NFL Insider Connor Hughes, three teams to watch when it comes to potentially hiring Vrabel are the Jets, Bears, and Raiders.
Vrabel didn’t land a head coaching job last offseason, so he spent the season as a coaching and personnel consultant with the Cleveland Browns.
But Vrabel’s consulting gig in Cleveland ended on Monday, making immediately available to interview with other clubs.
Vrabel has previously expressed interest in coaching the Jets, with ESPN’s Rich Cimini reporting that Vrabel would need to be on board with the team’s general manager hire to consider taking the job in New York.
Jan. 2, 7:35 p.m.
After reports stated Ron Rivera would interview for the Jets’ head coach vacancy on Thursday, the team confirmed they have completed an interview with the veteran coach.
Rivera, 62, is the first candidate to interview for the position.
Rivera was a head coach for both the Panthers and Commanders from 2022-2023, with Washington being his most recent stop. His most successful seasons were in Carolina where he took the team to the Super Bowl in 2015 and won Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2015.
Dec. 31, 3:35 p.m.
Former Washington and Carolina head coach Ron Rivera will interview for the Jets’ vacant head coaching job on Thursday, according to multiple reports.
Rivera, 62, will become the first candidate to interview.
It was reported earlier this week that the Jets intended to interview Rivera, who hasn’t coached since the 2023 season with Washington, but was the NFL Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2015 with the Panthers.
Dec. 30, 9:58 a.m.
The Jets will interview Ron Rivera for their head coaching job, per multiple reports.
Rivera, 62, was the head coach of Washington from 2020 to 2023.
Before that stint, he was the head coach of the Panthers from 2011 to 2019.
Jeff Ulbrich has been serving as New York’s interim head coach since Robert Saleh was fired in October, but is not expected to be under serious consideration for the full-time job.
With Rivera expected to interview this week, it means the Jets will be starting their head coaching interviews before their new GM is in place.
The search to replace Joe Douglas is ongoing.
Dec. 30, 8:55 a.m.
Rex Ryan expects to talk with Gang Green about its impending vacancy after the regular season ends, he said Monday during an appearance on ESPN New York radio.
Ryan, 62, coached the Jets from 2009 to 2014, a span that included back-to-back trips to the AFC Championship Game after the 2009 and 2010 seasons, where New York fell to the Colts and then Steelers. The Jets have not been back to the playoffs since their AFC title game loss to Pittsburgh in January of 2011.
After being fired by the Jets following the 2014 season, Ryan was the head coach of the Bills from 2015 to 2016, but has been out of the NFL for nearly a decade.
Ryan has been a regular critic of the Jets while working as a commentator for ESPN.
He was also clear recently about his desire to return to the team.
Speaking on Pardon My Take in November after the Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh, Ryan threw his hat in the ring.
“I’d like to, there’s no doubt about it,” Ryan said about a possible second stint as Jets head coach. “I’ve let everyone know that I definitely would be interested in that job, even though I’ve got a great gig.
“I think I have some unfinished business, especially with that franchise. That particular franchise, you know my dad was there forever, he won a Super Bowl, and it’s super close to me. I would get back in it if I thought I could make a difference — and I think I could make a big difference with that team.”
Dec. 5, 11:20 a.m.
The Jets have long stressed a defensive indentity, as five of their past six head coaches entered the coveted job with years of experience coaching that side of the ball. But if the franchise wants to find an offensive-minded leader, there’s a name floating around that only few expected to utter.
While recently speaking on his Flight Desk podcast, ESPN reporter Rich Cimini hinted that Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith can be considered a “darkhorse candidate” for the Jets’ job. Cimini supported the claim by noting how ex-Jets head coach Robert Saleh wanted Smith on his coaching staff last season, to supervise the offense and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
Smith, who joined the Steelers’ coaching staff in February, spent three frustrating seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons (2021-23). He compiled a mediocre 21-30 record, failed to make the playoffs, and implemented an ineffective scheme. In 2021, the Falcons’ offense ranked 29th in yards and 26th in points. The situation didn’t improve, either — the unit ranked 26th in points again last year, despite having a superstar talent in rooking running back Bijan Robinson.
The Falcons fired Smith last offseason, and since joining the Steelers, their offense has produced some mixed results. While the rushing offense currently ranks ninth (133.1 yards per game) in the league, they’ve scored on just 44 percent of red zone trips.
Dec. 4, 3:30 p.m.
While the Jets prepare for their fourth head coaching search in the past decade, a handful of potential candidates are coming to the forefront. And one of the most popular names has only been away from the sideline for a year.
During the latest episode of ESPN’s Flight Desk podcast, Jets reporter Rich Cimini mentioned that former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel has already expressed interest in the job to others. But, there’s one important stipulation — he must be on board with who the franchise selects as its next general manager.
Vrabel, who spent six seasons as the Titans’ head coach (2018-2023), compiled a 54-45 regular-season record with four winning campaigns and three playoff appearances. The height of his success came in 2019, as the team unexpectedly reached the AFC Championship Game. Tennessee finished with losing records in his last two seasons, and he was fired in Jan. 2024.
If the Jets want another defensive-minded leader, Vrabel’s certainly an appealing option. The Titans averaged 21.8 points allowed during his tenure, and finished top-10 in the category twice. He’ll be in high demand, however, with the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, and possibly other teams joining the coaching carousel in the coming weeks. Vrabel went unhired last offseason, and joined the Cleveland Browns as a consultant back in March.
https://sports.yahoo.com/latest-buzz-jets-head-coaching-145548447.html
