This is day 11 of the Jets’ head coaching search.
So let’s catch up with you where they are – and what’s next.
Here’s what happened Wednesday …
Joe Douglas, general manager of the Jets, presented 49ers defense coordinator Robert Saleh for a second interview. Saleh was the first Jets finalist to sit in the first phase of this search for a personal, follow-up interview with Douglas after nine video chat interviews. But Saleh leaves without an agreement to accept the post. His next stop – Philadelphia, to meet with the Eagles over their head coach position.
Douglas also once again conducted a personal, follow-up interview with attacking coordinator Arthur Smith of Titans. Like Saleh, he is a popular candidate. He has the interest of all seven coaching-needed teams. (Saleh has interest of six, with the Texans the exception.) And like Saleh, Smith will meet with the Eagles after the Jets.
– What’s next? Well, both Saleh and Smith can be hired right away because they are not in the playoffs. Smith already had a second interview with the Hawks this week, along with the Jets follow-up. He is expected to conduct a second interview with the Lions on Friday, after meeting with the Eagles for the first time on Thursday, according to to the NFL network.
– Coaches in the play-offs can not only be hired immediately, but also not for personal interviews. This is a clear advantage for guys like Saleh and Smith.
Keep it ready on Thursday for all the live updates, news and rumors about this search, while acting owner Christopher Johnson (wisely) falls out of the way and lets Douglas do his job – leading the search.
Robert Saleh, finalist of the Jets, will meet with Chargers again:
The Jets completed their second follow-up interview with a finalist on Thursday – the offensive coordinator of the Titans, Arthur Smith, who has a lot of other interest, as shown below:
Urban Meyer expect to join Jaguars:
The first domino fell in the appointment of the NFL head coach in 2021. The Jaguars were the only team to pursue Meyer, but they also had an interest in both of the Jets’ finalists – Robert Saleh and Arthur Smith. None of them will go to Jacksonville.
Arthur Smith plans to do all four of his personal interviews this week:
The Jets finalists are still meeting with them from Thursday morning. He’s already sitting with the Falcons. Next: the Eagles later Thursday, and then the Lions Friday.
Smith plans to complete all four of these personal interviews before making a decision, according to NFL Network.
Another interview for Jets candidate Brandon Staley, who also spoke to Chargers:
With Meyer on his way to Jacksonville, six of the seven NFL head coaching vacancies remain vacant – Jets, Eagles, Falcons, Texans, Lions and Chargers.
The Texans hired Nick Caserio of Patriots to be their next general manager. And the Lions hired the Rams’ Brad Holmes to fulfill that role for them. But the Jaguars and Falcons still have GM vacancies. The Saints’ Terry Fontenot is the favorite in Atlanta. And Meyer could be double as GM in Jacksonville, though it’s not clear if he will.
Here are the nine known candidates of the Jets, plus other interest they received:
FINALIST
– Robert Saleh, 49ers defense coordinator (Chargers, Jaguars, Lions, Falcons, Eagles)
– Arthur Smith, attacking coordinator of Titans (Chargers, Jaguars, Lions, Falcons, Texans, Eagles)
OTHER CANDIDATES INTERVIEW
Still in playoffs …
– Eric Bieniemy, Offensive Coordinator of Chiefs (Falcons, Lions, Chargers, Jaguars, Texans)
– Brian Daboll, Offensive Coordinator of Bills (Chargers)
– Brandon Staley, Rams defense coordinator (Chargers, Texans)
– Aaron Glenn, Saints defensive coach (no other interest reported)
Now available …
– Marvin Lewis, former head coach of Bengals (Texans, Lions)
– Joe Brady, attacking coordinator of Panthers (Falcons, Texans, Chargers, Eagles)
– Matt Eberflus, Colts defense coordinator (Texans, Chargers)
OTHER POSSIBLE JETS CANDIDATES
Doug Pederson, former Eagles head coach
Don “Wink” Martindale, Ravens Defense Coordinator
Dan Mullen, Head Coach of the University of Florida
Pat Fitzgerald, North West Head Coach
Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma Head Coach
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