Why the Jets are NFL’s most attractive coaching opening
The Jets are about to post the “Help Wanted” sign at the end of the season as they begin to search for a new head coach.
They will not be alone. Every year there are six or seven head coaches fired in the days after the season. This year, the Browns got a head start by dismissing Hue Jackson midseason.
In the past when the Jets have had a coaching vacancy, the job has not always been very appealing. This year, though, the Jets job should be one of the more attractive openings.
Think about what a new coach would be taking over in 2019.
Theoretically, the Jets have their franchise quarterback in Sam Darnold. If you are a coach who liked Darnold in the draft, then the idea of working with him should be very exciting.
Though the roster needs a lot of work, there is some young talent, led by Jamal Adams. The team has nearly $100 million in salary-cap space, so you can work with general manager Mike Maccagnan on plugging holes on the roster. It looks like the Jets will have a top-five draft pick as well. Acting owner Christopher Johnson has shown he is not a meddler with football operations but will provide support.
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When you look at the rumored openings around the league, the Jets will be a better destination than the Buccaneers or Bengals. The Browns opening is similar to the Jets, with a young quarterback, but owner Jimmy Haslam has fired four coaches in six years on the job. The Jets offer a more stable ownership situation.
The Packers and Ravens may be more attractive because of their winning traditions, but anyone interested in Baltimore is going to have to believe in quarterback Lamar Jackson, who was a polarizing player in the draft process.
To me, the biggest question for any potential Jets candidate is about Maccagnan. The first question for any potential coach will be whether they believe they can win with Maccagnan. It appears he is going to survive this season, but his track record over four years is not good. His misses in the draft and in free agency could scare away a coach with other options.
The Johnson brothers have some big decisions to make if they choose to keep Maccagnan. Will they change the organizational structure from the GM and coach reporting directly to the owner (as it was with Todd Bowles) back to the coach reporting to the GM? If they go back to the coach being under the GM, any potential coach is going to have to question whether they could be working for a new boss in a year.
Maccagnan’s record as GM is tough to defend, and the bull’s-eye will be on him in 2019 with Bowles gone. That will be a concern for any potential head coach. It is a tricky thing for the Johnsons to navigate, though. Maccagnan should be given the ability to pick the next coach, but giving him power over the coach is akin to giving him a promotion, which is a hard sell when this team is 13-30 over the past three years.
Ultimately, the GM situation is a hurdle the Johnsons will have to clear in the hiring process, but it can be overcome.
The biggest sell the Jets have is Darnold. Having a potential franchise quarterback in the building is not something they have had during recent coach hires. Bowles inherited Geno Smith, who was a huge question mark. Rex Ryan came in as Brett Favre was saying goodbye, and Ryan ended up drafting Mark Sanchez. Eric Mangini had Chad Pennington, but he was coming off surgery and viewed as damaged goods by then. You have to go back to Herm Edwards in 2001 taking over with a young Pennington already on the team.
You can argue there is not much other talent on the roster, but Adams, Marcus Maye, Leonard Williams and Quincy Enunwa (who should be re-signed) are building blocks.
The Jets should have their choice of coach come January. Now, they just have to pick the right guy.
