Jets being denied permission to interview college coach

The Jets are not the first to be denied by USC, but it looks like they are the latest.

ESPN reported Saturday that USC has denied permission to the Jets to interview Trojans offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury for their head-coaching opening. They also have turned down the Cardinals for the same request.

Apparently the NFL is enforcing an old rule that requires teams to ask colleges’ permission to interview their coaches. According to the report, the NFL told teams at the league meetings last month in Dallas that not doing so would be considered “conduct detrimental” and could result in draft picks being taken away.

Pro Football Talk reported Kingsbury is considering resigning from USC in order to interview for the head coaching jobs.

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He is an intriguing candidate. The 39-year-old oversaw a potent offense as the head coach at Texas Tech for six seasons. He was fired in November after his third straight losing season. USC hired him in December as its new offensive coordinator.

When Kingsbury’s name surfaced as a potential candidate for the Jets, the team’s star safety Jamal Adams showed support for him on Twitter and followed that up on WFAN’s “CMB” show.

“He’s an offensive-minded coach. He’s going to bring swagger,” Adams said on the radio. “He’s going to develop Sam into a great quarterback. Look at his track record, man — Johnny Manziel, Pat Mahomes, Baker Mayfield. Look at what he did at Texas A&M, the offensive background. Come on, man.”

Kingsbury has no NFL coaching experience, so he may be a risky hire as a head coach. The Jets could just want to interview him to pick his brain and consider him as an offensive coordinator.

Unless USC changes its stance, the Jets won’t get that chance.