Tag: Jets head coach

7 things to know about new Jets head coach Robert Saleh

Here are seven things to know about new Jets head coach Robert Saleh.

Robert Saleh is the Jets’ next head coach.

New York made it official late Thursday nigh, hiring the former 49ers defensive coordinator. Saleh was in hot demand, as he interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles for their head-coaching vacancies.

Ultimately, it was the Jets who were the most interested in Saleh, as they had two interviews with him before deciding to make him their next head coach. Now, Saleh will have the next five years to prove that he is the right man for the job.

Let’s get to know the Jets’ newest head coach a bit better…

Jets Twitter reacts with joy after team hires Robert Saleh

Here’s how twitter reacted to the Jets hiring Robert Saleh as their next head coach.

Robert Saleh will be the 20th coach in Jets history.

Saleh comes to New York after spending the last four seasons as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator. In San Francisco’s Super Bowl run in 2019, Saleh’s defense allowed the fewest passing yards per game (169.2 yards) in the NFL since the 2009 Jets allowed 153.7. His defense also ranked second in the NFL in total yards per game (281.8 yards),which was the fewest for the 49ers since 1997 when they allowed 250.8.

Even with injuries in 2020, Saleh’s Niners defense still finished the 2020 season fifth in yards allowed, fourth in passing yards allowed, and seventh in rushing yards allowed. Now the Jets are hoping Saleh can lead an entire team in the right direction.

For what it’s worth, it looks like fans are on board with the idea. Gang Green fans took to Twitter late Thursday night to share their excitement over their new head coach.

Joe Douglas talks Jets coaching search, firing Gase, Darnold’s future

Here are the main takeaways from Joe Douglas’s season-ending press conference.

Joe Douglas had a chance to share his outlook on the Jets’ future on Tuesday as he gets set to embark on his first head-coaching hire.

Douglas talked about how difficult it was for the Jets to fire Adam Gase, the traits he wants in a new head coach, Sam Darnold’s future and some other offseason goals.

The Jets’ general manager was disappointed in the team’s performance this season, but Douglas is excited for what the future holds heading into the offseason.

Report: Jets — and every other team with an opening — interested in Titans OC Arthur Smith

The Jets are one of six teams interested in interviewing Titans OC Arthur Smith.

The Jets are one of six teams who have requested permission or plan to ask permission to interview Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Chargers, Jaguars, Lions, Falcons and Texans — every other team with a vacancy — are the other five.

The 38-year-old Smith has been with the Titans organization since 2011. Smith has worked his way up the ranks and has spent the last two seasons as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator. He’s also served as an offensive and defensive quality control coach, offensive line coach, assistant tight ends coach and tight ends coach.

The Titans have one of the top offenses in the NFL under Smith. Tennessee is third in yards per game (396.4 yards), 23rd in passing yards per game (228.3 yards), second in rushing yards per game (168.1 yards) and fourth in points per game (30.8 points). Smith has been heavily credited with resurrecting Ryan Tannehill’s career after the quarterback was inconsistent in Miami under Adam Gase.

Smith will be one of many candidates the Jets consider. They’ve already put in a request to interview Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy, Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and Colts DC Matt Eberflus.

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Christopher Johnson, Joe Douglas met with Jets players after firing Adam Gase

Christopher Johnson and Joe Douglas assured Jets players they’ll hire the right coach.

Christopher Johnson and Joe Douglas met with Jets players Monday morning and assured them they will hire the “right coach.”

New York officially fired Adam Gase on Sunday after two losing seasons. The Jets will conduct another coaching search, one that is expected to be lengthy and thorough, with the hopes of landing a head coach who can lead the franchise in the right direction.

Based on the meeting, Connor McGovern got the sense that the Jets are looking for a “CEO kind of guy” to steer the ship, per The Athletic’s Connor Hughes. Gase’s main focus was on his offense, leaving the defense entirely to Gregg Williams before he was fired at the end of the season.

George Fant acknowledged on Monday that the Jets need a culture change. Fant, who previously played for the Seahawks, said Seattle has a phenomenal culture. However, Fant is “really confident” that Johnson and Douglas will find the right head coach, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini.

There are plenty of head coaching candidates that the Jets can take a look at. On the NFL level, Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, Colts DC Matt Eberflus, Ravens DC Don Martindale, Bills OC Brian Daboll and Titans OC Arthur Smith are just some of the names the Jets could target, per NFL Network. Northwestern HC Pat Fitzgerald and Iowa State HC Matt Campbell could draw interest as well.

Report: Bill Cowher has ‘no interest in coaching’ amid Jets speculation

Rumors pegged Hall of Fame coach Bill Cowher as a fit for the Jets, but he isn’t interested.

Rumors swirled this past week about Bill Cowher making a return to the sidelines, specifically with the Jets should they fire Adam Gase. However, it turns out the Hall of Fame coach is happy in retirement.

WFAN’s Boomer Esiason speculated that Cowher hasn’t shut the door on a potential return to coaching and that he finds the Jets job to be an attractive one. However, Cowher told ESPN’s Rich Cimini that he doesn’t plan on making a comeback.

“I have no interest in coaching,” Cowher said.

Pertaining to the Jets job, specifically, Cowher doesn’t want to overstep by talking about a job that’s not open yet. But it doesn’t sound like he would be interested in any open positions, either.

“I have too much respect for the coaching profession to talk about a job that isn’t open,” Cowher said. “From that perspective, any job that is open, I have no interest in coaching.”

The 63-year-old has been out of the game since 2006. He had a 15-year stint as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, amassing a 149-90-1 record. He won a Super Bowl in his second to last season in 2005.

A coach like Cowher would give the Jets increased credibility given his winning pedigree and long list of career accomplishments, but that’s no happening, according to him. It’s unclear what or who exactly the Jets will look for when it comes time to replace Gase, but Cowher seems to be comfortable where he’s at on “The NFL Today.”

Adam Gase grateful for Jets CEO Christopher Johnson’s support

Jets HC Adam is glad that Christopher Johnson assured him that his job is safe for 2020.

Jets head coach Adam Gase was naturally pleased with what CEO Christopher Johnson had to say about him on Wednesday.

Johnson said that the Jets will not make a head coaching change before or after this season, meaning Gase will be the coach in 2020. While Gase has never worried about his job security, it was still refreshing for the head coach to hear that his boss has confidence in him going forward.

“To get his support, and for him to see what we’re trying to do, that’s an important step for us,” Gase told reporters.

Johnson told the rest of the team the news before the game against the Giants. The news was well-received.

“If everything works out how it’s supposed to and Adam’s here again, that would be absolutely amazing,” Sam Darnold said. “I think most of the guys on the team, if not the whole team, already had that much confidence in Coach Gase.”

When a coach’s job status is brought into question, it could cause players to be distracted from doing their job on the field. However, Gase hasn’t noticed that in this locker room.

“Nobody in this building, but I can’t speak for the outside,” Gase said. “I’m closed in a little bit.”

People on the outside have certainly called for Gase to be fired. Last week, a group of Jets fans organized for a plane to be flown over New York City that carried a banner that read “Fire Adam Gase!” After the Jets lost to the Dolphins, fans could be heard chanting for the coach to be fired.

That’s not going to happen though, at least not any time soon.