The New York Jets officially split from coach Adam Gase; the East Rutherford experiment is finally over.
With Gase’s time with “Gang Green” going as well as most people initially predicted he would go after his less than impressive stint with rival Miami Dolphins, Jets President and CEO Christopher Johnson has formally announced that New York will follow in a different direction before the 2021-22 campaign with the 2020-21 regular season now over.
While such a Jets move is hardly a surprise, considering that New York ended the regular season with the second worst record in the entire NFL, Gase went from one foot outside the door to officially unemployed. With Gase out and a newcomer scheduled to take over along the sideline for the Jets before next season, it remains to be seen how New York will proceed with its impending rental.
Whoever gets this job will be in a unique situation, as the Jets currently have the second overall choice in the NFL’s 2021 Draft, with a decision that needs to be made at the center.
Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy
After winning the Super Bowl as the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive coordinator just one season ago, Eric Bieniemy surprisingly did not become an NFL coach in the past off season. Considered one of the main candidates in the market last time, there is no doubt that Bieniemy is the name that is at the top of the list of most teams today. Although Bieniemy is still leading an offensive in Kansas City that continued to thrive in 2020-21, when supporters of the Super Bowl Champion Chiefs won the AFC seed, it shouldn’t be long before other franchises join the Jets and call with their respective head coach positions. Even if other suitors like the Houston Texans, the Detroit Lions and possibly the Los Angeles Chargers certainly planned to face Bieniemy, perhaps the intrigue of having quarterback Sam Darnold and striker Mekhi Becton already in place alongside a rather formidable defense could attract the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator for East Rutherford – not to mention the fact that the AFC East franchise remains in line to pick second in 2021.
Defense coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, Robert Saleh
If Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is the hottest candidate at the moment, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is not far behind. Obviously a more defensive coach than Bieniemy, it is entirely possible that the Jets will let other suiotors dispute the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator as New York approaches to guarantee Saleh’s services.
With the Jets in a unique position to employ quarterback Sam Darnold, while occupying second overall position in the 2021 NFL Draft, perhaps general manager Joe Douglas will focus on the structure of the attack as a candidate like Saleh restarts the defensive core team. Saleh is not only one of the league’s most important defensive minds today, apart from being one of the most complete coaches of any kind, but he has also done more with less over the past few seasons and especially in 2020-21. The 49ers notably won an NFC title in 2019 en route to the Super Bowl, although San Francisco soon found a series of injuries in its squad this time around. Winning just six games in the toughest division in all of football, the 49ers still played week after week, something Saleh definitely had a hand on.
Tennessee Titans Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith
Next season’s unlucky Jets candidate, Tennessee Titans’ offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, spent a few years in Nashville – although it may be time to move elsewhere to get a much-deserved promotion. With Titans coach Mike Vrabel firmly in charge in Tennessee and the team’s former offensive coordinator in Tennessee at Matt LaFleur already becoming the coach of the Green Bay Packers, Smith may be the next to make a leap from Nashville. Although Smith only recently became the Titans’ offensive coordinator with LaFleur leaving for Green Bay before last season, he quickly rose to the top of the profession by creating a prolific attack in Tennessee.
Whether it’s quarterback Ryan Tannehill playing for wide receivers AJ Brown and Corey Davis or running back Derrick Henry of the Pro Bowl, leading the league in races in both seasons for Smith in charge, including a 2,000 yard effort in 2020-21. – the candidate candidate could have a chance with the modest New York Jets, a team that seeks to change things quickly.
