It is the 11th day of search for the Jets’ head coach.
So, let’s update you on where they are – and what comes next.
Here’s what happened on Wednesday …
– The general manager of jets, Joe Douglas, received 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh for a second interview. Saleh was the first Jets finalist to sit down for a personal follow-up interview with Douglas, after nine video chat interviews in the first phase of this survey. But Saleh left without an agreement to accept the job. Your next stop – Philadelphia, to meet the Eagles about their job as head coach.
– Douglas also gave another face-to-face interview on Wednesday, with the Titans’ offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith. Like Saleh, he is a highly sought after candidate. He is interested in all seven teams that need coaching. (Saleh has an interest of six, with Texans being the exception.) And, like Saleh, Smith must meet the Eagles after the Jets.
– So what next? Well, Saleh and Smith can be hired immediately, because they are not in the playoffs. Smith this week already had a second interview with the Falcons, along with the follow-up to the Jets. He must have a second interview with the Lions on Friday, after meeting the Eagles for the first time on Thursday, according for the NFL network.
– Not only can coaches in the playoffs not be hired immediately, but they cannot sit down for personal interviews. Which is a distinct advantage for guys like Saleh and Smith.
Keep it right here on Thursday for all live updates, news and rumors about this survey, as owner Christopher Johnson (wisely) gets out of the way and lets Douglas do his job – leading the survey.
Jets finalist Robert Saleh will meet Chargers again:
On Thursday, the Jets ended their second follow-up interview with a finalist – Titans’ offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, who has many other interests, as noted below:
Meyer Urbano expected to join the Jaguars:
The first domino fell in the 2021 NFL head coach hiring cycle. The Jaguars were the only team chasing Meyer, but they were also interested in the finalists for the two Jets – Robert Saleh and Arthur Smith. Now, none of them will go to Jacksonville.
Arthur Smith plans to do all four of his personal interviews this week:
The Jets finalist will still meet with them on Thursday morning. He’s already sat with the Falcons. Next – the Eagles on Thursday, then Lions on Friday.
Smith plans to complete all four of these personal interviews before making a decision, according to the NFL Network.
Another interview for Jets’ candidate Brandon Staley, who also spoke to Chargers:
With Meyer heading to Jacksonville, six of the seven NFL head coach vacancies remain unfilled – Jets, Eagles, Falcons, Texans, Lions and Chargers.
The Texans hired Nick Caserio of the Patriots to be their next general manager. And Lions hired Brad Holmes of the Rams to fill that role for them. But Jaguars and Falcons still have vacancies at GM. Saints’ Terry Fontenot is a favorite in Atlanta. And Meyer could double as a GM in Jacksonville, although it is unclear whether he will.
Here are the nine known Jets candidates, plus other interest they received:
FINALISTS
– Robert Saleh, 49ers defensive coordinator (Chargers, Jaguars, Lions, Falcons, Eagles)
– Arthur Smith, Titans offensive coordinator (Chargers, Jaguars, Lions, Falcons, Texans, Eagles)
OTHER CANDIDATES INTERVIEWED
Still in playoffs …
– Eric Bieniemy, Chiefs offensive coordinator (Falcons, Lions, Chargers, Jaguars, Texans)
– Brian Daboll, offensive coordinator for Bills (Chargers)
– Brandon Staley, defensive coordinator for Rams (Chargers, Texans)
– Aaron Glenn, Saints defense coach (no other interest reported)
Available now …
– Marvin Lewis, former head coach of Bengals (Texans, lions)
– Joe Brady, offensive coordinator for the Panthers (Falcons, Texans, Chargers, Eagles)
– Matt Eberflus, defensive coordinator for Colts (Texans, Chargers)
OTHER POSSIBLE JET CANDIDATES
Doug Pederson, former Eagles coach
Don “Wink” Martindale, defensive coordinator for Ravens
Dan Mullen, Head Coach, University of Florida
Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern Head Coach
Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma Head Coach
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