The Jets accomplished interviews No. 13, 14 and 15 for his or her head coach opening on Friday.
Two of the interviews had been with coordinators — Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
The third was with a candidate who could be a extra unconventional alternative — Josh McCown.
Jets followers will keep in mind McCown’s two years with the workforce as a quarterback, first as a starter after which as a mentor to rookie Sam Darnold.
McCown is now the Vikings quarterbacks coach, the place he was reunited with Darnold this season as Minnesota went 14-3 and made the playoffs.
McCown, who has solely been an NFL assistant for 2 years, is the one teaching candidate the Jets have that has not been a head coach or a coordinator.
The 45-year-old could be making an uncommon leap from place coach to the highest job and not using a cease as a coordinator.
However those that know McCown nicely say his management means will overshadow any lack of expertise he has calling performs.
Huge receiver Brandon Marshall performed with McCown in 2012 and 2013 with the Bears.
Marshall noticed McCown change an injured Jay Cutler in 2013 and throw 13 touchdowns and one interception, protecting the Bears season alive.
“I knew again then that Josh was a person I might observe anyplace. Josh is a frontrunner. He’s a galvanizer,” Marshall stated Friday. “He occurred to know the best way to throw the soccer. He occurred to have a excessive soccer IQ. The factor that made Josh particular is everybody within the [bleeping] constructing loves him. All people.”
The bounce from place coach to go coach is uncommon however not unprecedented.
A terrific instance of it working is Andy Reid, who went from Packers quarterbacks coach to Eagles head coach in 1999.
Reid has received 273 common season video games, the fourth most in NFL historical past, and has received three Tremendous Bowls with the Chiefs.
Reid’s achievements could also be a troublesome bar for McCown to clear however there are different examples of coaches being employed who haven’t referred to as performs earlier than like McCown’s boss in Minnesota, Kevin O’Connell or Miami’s Mike McDaniel.
These two had offensive coordinator titles however weren’t the first play-caller with Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan as their respective bosses.
Marshall stated McVay’s 18 years within the NFL as a quarterback greater than make up for a scarcity of teaching expertise.
“Who’s extra certified to run an offense — a coach or a man who really performed the place?” Marshall stated.
McCown spent a few years as a backup quarterback and later in his profession was a mentor to many younger quarterbacks, making ready him for his teaching future.
McCown has already been interviewed twice by the Texans for his or her head teaching openings in 2021 and 2022.
The primary got here whereas he was nonetheless a participant.
In 2018, the Jets had been contemplating firing Todd Bowles throughout the season however couldn’t resolve if anybody on the teaching workers may very well be the interim coach.
McCown was mentioned as an choice as a player-coach, displaying how extremely he was considered.
Mike McCartney, McCown’s longtime agent when he was a participant, stated McCown can join with gamers as a result of he has gone by way of practically each expertise within the NFL.
“Josh McCown is the epitome of a frontrunner of males,” McCartney stated Friday. “He genuinely cares about individuals and has an unparalleled means to attach with everybody within the locker room. His profession displays a novel journey — he’s been drafted, paid, launched, traded, injured, performed in one other league and even been on a apply squad. Josh can actually establish with each participant on a roster as a result of he’s lived their experiences. This makes him a pure trainer, motivator and unifier.”
There doesn’t appear to be any doubt across the league that McCown will finally be a head coach.
There have been situations like McVay with the Rams and Zac Taylor with the Bengals the place groups determined to rent somebody early earlier than shedding the possibility to rent them later.
McCartney stated he’s assured McCown will put collectively a robust workers to assist him win if the Jets rent him.
“What units Josh aside is self-awareness and humility — he would know the best way to put collectively a training workers that enhances his inexperience in teaching and bolsters areas the place he might lack energy,” McCartney stated. “His means to encompass himself with the precise individuals, paired together with his management and character, makes him an excellent head coach candidate for the Jets or any NFL workforce.”
The Titans are working towards hiring Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi, in line with a number of reviews.
Borgonzi interviewed with the Jets and was considered as a robust candidate.
The Jets are anticipated to start second interviews with GM candidates within the subsequent few days.
