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 […]
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 turn their attention to finding a new head coach that will lead them team against him.
By all accounts, Vrabel was clearly the top choice for the Jets and likely the only one they were willing to hire before signing a new general manager. It’s not surprising that Vrabel took the Patriots job over the Jets job. Patriots owner Robert Kraft is one of the best in football, while the Jets have Woody Johnson. The Patriots also have a quarterback in Drake Maye who looks every bit the part of a franchise quarterback. The rest of the Patriots’ roster is terrible, but they have the fourth overall pick in the draft and about $130 million in cap space to rectify that.
It seems like we can scratch off another coaching candidate off the list as well. According to a report from Connor Hughes who covers the team for SNY, the Jets are no longer interested in reuniting with the former Jets head coach in 2025.
I thought Rex Ryan was a long shot to get the job back when he first began screaming to anyone who would listen that he wanted the position. But the longer it went on, and the more I heard him speak about the job with passion he became the “break glass in case of emergency” choice to me. Vrabel was still my top choice, but we could do worse than Rex. And the list that Woody Johnson and co. are putting together certain takes that to heart.
The Jets have a long list of candidates they are interviewing for the job. Everyone from Vrabel to University of Maryland head coach Mike Locksley. And almost all of them do absolutely nothing to give me any kind of hope for the future. I mean, Matt Nagy? Vance Joseph? No, thank you.
When this coaching search started, Aaron Glenn wasn’t nearly as high on my list as he is now. And he hasn’t risen in my ranking because he has become a better candidate, he is simply the best of a bad lot.
He’s a lotto ticket. Could he be the next great head coach? Yes. But could he be another guy who is a much better coordinator than head coach? Also, yes. Could he be a great head coach and have no idea how to fill out a staff? Sure.
If the Jets miss out on Glenn, then I’m afraid their next choice will likely be Brian Flores, a man who told a young NFL player “you don’t belong in the league” and the wondered why he got fired. Do me a favor and spare me the “he wouldn’t take games” argument. He got fired because he has no idea how to be a head coach and deal with a young quarterback. Everything else is window-dressing. He is a defensive coordinator and that is as high as he should reach in the league. He is a new generations version of Gregg Williams. Do I want him running my defense? Sure. Do I want him leading my team? Absolutely, unequivocally, no.
Which brings us back to Rex Ryan. At this point in the search, Aaron Glenn is my top choice to be head coach for the Jets, and I hope that he has a plan at offensive coordinator. But if the Jets were to lose Glenn to a team like the New Orleans Saints, Rex Ryan would be the best of a bad lot. There isn’t one other name on the list that I would want to lead the “culture change” that the Jets so badly need.
Eliminating Rex Ryan so early from the list (if Connor Hughes is correct in his report) is bad move made by a bad owner at a bad time. But I expect nothing less at this point.
NFL hilariously sending the Jets back to the place where it all fell apart in 2024
The New York Jets are headed back across the pond. The team announced today that the Jets will play a home game in London during the 2025 season. Their opponents will be revealed, along with dates and kickoff times, when the full 2025 schedule is released this spring. New York is one of three teams […]
