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 can be a extra unconventional selection — Josh McCown.
Jets followers will bear in mind McCown’s two years with the staff 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 can 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 potential will overshadow any lack of expertise he has calling performs.
Large 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 mentioned Friday. “He occurred to know the 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. Everyone.”
The bounce from place coach to go coach is uncommon however not unprecedented.
An amazing instance of it working is Andy Reid, who went from Packers quarterbacks coach to Eagles head coach in 1999.
Reid has gained 273 common season video games, the fourth most in NFL historical past, and has gained 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 mentioned McVay’s 18 years within the NFL as a quarterback greater than make up for an absence of teaching expertise.
“Who’s extra certified to run an offense — a coach or a man who really performed the place?” Marshall mentioned.
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 through the season however couldn’t determine if anybody on the teaching workers might be the interim coach.
McCown was mentioned as an choice as a player-coach, exhibiting how extremely he was considered.
Mike McCartney, McCown’s longtime agent when he was a participant, mentioned McCown can join with gamers as a result of he has gone via almost each expertise within the NFL.
“Josh McCown is the epitome of a frontrunner of males,” McCartney mentioned Friday. “He genuinely cares about folks and has an unparalleled potential 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 really establish with each participant on a roster as a result of he’s lived their experiences. This makes him a pure instructor, motivator and unifier.”
There doesn’t appear to be any doubt across the league that McCown will ultimately be a head coach.
There have been cases like McVay with the Rams and Zac Taylor with the Bengals the place groups determined to rent somebody early earlier than dropping the possibility to rent them later.
McCartney mentioned 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 way to put collectively a training workers that enhances his inexperience in teaching and bolsters areas the place he could lack power,” McCartney mentioned. “His potential to encompass himself with the appropriate folks, paired along with his management and character, makes him a perfect head coach candidate for the Jets or any NFL staff.”
The Titans are working towards hiring Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi, in accordance with a number of reviews.
Borgonzi interviewed with the Jets and was seen as a robust candidate.
The Jets are anticipated to start second interviews with GM candidates within the subsequent few days.
