Since Bill Parcells stepped down nearly 25 years ago, the Jets have mostly leaned toward hiring first-time head coaches.
Under Woody Johnson’s ownership, the franchise has made seven head coaching hires, with only one being a retread.
As the team navigates another disappointing season and mounting negative press, it appears the Jets are now looking to shift direction.
According to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, the Jets are targeting experienced candidates for both the head coach and general manager positions.
While second-chance GMs are relatively rare in today’s NFL—only Tom Telesco and Trent Baalke currently fit that description—retread head coaches are more common.
To date, Adam Gase remains the only retread HC hire of the Johnson era, and his selection came during Christopher Johnson’s stint as acting owner.
Now, one notable experienced coach has expressed interest in the position.
Rex Ryan, who led the Jets from 2009–2014, has publicly stated his eagerness to return to the team. Ryan has been out of coaching since his dismissal by the Bills in 2016.
If Woody Johnson resumes his role as ambassador to the United Kingdom in a potential second Donald Trump administration, Christopher Johnson could play a central role in these critical hires.
Christopher was responsible for the Gase and Robert Saleh hirings, but this time Woody is expected to lead the search.
Per Jones, the Jets want to begin their GM search immediately, though NFL rules prevent them from interviewing candidates currently employed by teams until the regular season concludes, effectively delaying the process.
Jones also reports that while the Jets are likely to use an advisor to guide these hires, they are stopping short of employing a search firm.
However, a significant challenge looms: convincing quality candidates to join the franchise.
Woody Johnson has been criticized for meddling in football operations, including blocking efforts to acquire a quarterback after Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles injury, nixing a Jerry Jeudy trade, and interfering with contract decisions for Bryce Huff and Haason Reddick.
This season has added to Johnson’s poor reputation.
The Jets are on track to miss the playoffs for the 14th consecutive year, the longest active drought in the NFL.
Critics, including Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline, describe Johnson as poorly regarded across the league, citing a tendency to listen to non-football advisors.
While some suggest hiring a strong football figure to limit Johnson’s interference, most NFL insiders do not expect Jets ownership to relinquish much power.
Replacing GM Joe Douglas, who reportedly grew frustrated with Johnson’s interference, may require the team to offer a significant salary. The Jets appear willing to pay well, according to Jones, but it’s unlikely the job will top most candidates’ lists.
Rodgers’ return this season has also impacted the team’s draft position, potentially complicating the rebuild for incoming leadership.
However, the team is now expected to sideline Rodgers—either via IR or benching—ahead of what many anticipate will be a split before 2025.
If Woody Johnson departs for an ambassador role, it could alleviate some of the meddling issues, though Christopher Johnson is also not seen as a strong football authority.
The Jets’ talented roster and the opportunity to fix the quarterback position will likely be the top selling points for potential hires.
Still, after yet another underwhelming season, how Jets ownership persuades high-caliber HC and GM candidates to join will be one of the most intriguing storylines of the NFL offseason.
