Mike McCarthy’s exit from the Cowboys could hand the Jets one of the best head coaching candidates out there
When one job closes another one opens. At least that how it is going in the coaching carrousel this year in the NFL. Just when the Jets thought they were competing with only five other teams for head coaching candidates, the Dallas Cowboys are officially parting ways with their head coach Mike McCarthy after another […]
When one job closes another one opens. At least that how it is going in the coaching carrousel this year in the NFL.
Just when the Jets thought they were competing with only five other teams for head coaching candidates, the Dallas Cowboys are officially parting ways with their head coach Mike McCarthy after another disappointing season in Dallas.
A new wrinkle at the stage of the game could have significant impact on what the Jets are or are not able to do as the continue to try and find their next head coach and GM. Where there were only six job openings at the start of this hiring cycle, now there are seven. One of those jobs is already filled by the Jets likely top choice, Mike Vrabel when he signed with the New England Patriots.
The likely next best choice for the Jets is Aaron Glenn, the former Jets cornerback and current defensive coordinator for top-seeded Detroit Lions. The Jets are likely not the only team in play for Glenn’s services as the New Orleans Saints are reportedly very interested. Glenn was the defensive backs coach with the Saints from 2016-2020 when he left to be the DC on Dan Campbell’s staff.
I say all this because the Saints are also very interested in Mike McCarthy now that he is available to talk to other teams. The Saints even asked Dallas to speak with McCarthy last week, but the Cowboys refused I guess still hoping to get the former Super Bowl winning head coach resigned in the Lone Star State. Now that that hasn’t happened, there is nothing stopping the Saints from pursuing McCarthy to take over in the Big Easy. If McCarthy winds up taking the head coaching job with the Saints, then the Jets would likely not have too much competition for Aaron Glenn.
Mike McCarthy signing with the Saints isn’t close to a done deal, as the Chicago Bears are reportedly very interested in bringing him back to the NFC North where he spent 13 years as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers.
As for the Jets, it is doubtful that will pursue McCarthy to take over as their head coach. During the 2019 coaching cycle, the Jets interviewed McCarthy for the head coaching position but ultimately wound up hiring (gulp) Adam Gase.
Dallas now being another job opening also has some interesting wrinkles. The Cowboys have a lot of solid pieces on their team, and are the most famous football franchise, but like the Jets, they have micro-managing owner who can’t quite figure out how to get out of his own way.
One of the big questions for the Jets this offseason is what to do with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, although I believe he played his last snap with the New York Jets. McCarthy and Rodgers spent 13 seasons together in Green Bay and won a Super Bowl together. While it was assumed that the two have a contentious relationship, the “Enigma” Netflix documentary revealed that Rodgers and McCarthy have a good current relationship.
Whether good or bad, the addition of McCarthy to the coaching pool and open job in Dallas means the Jets better figure out what they want quickly, or they may be left with their seventh best choice.
Jets reportedly put an end to speculation on Rex Ryan’s future as head coach in New York
Options continue to dwindle for the New York Jets as the coaching carrousel spins. After the New England Patriots announced that they are hiring Mike Vrabel to be their head coach in one of the most un-surprising moves of the offseason, the Jets not only have to deal with facing him twice a year, but […]
