It was recently reported that former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel “would think about” changing into the subsequent head coach of the New York Jets, relying on who workforce proprietor Woody Johnson hires because the franchise’s new common supervisor.
A distinct former head coach was linked with the Jets forward of the weekend.
“One other identify to observe, he is form of a darkish horse candidate — Arthur Smith, at the moment the [Pittsburgh Steelers’] offensive coordinator. He was one of many runner-ups to [Robert Saleh] in 2021,” Jets reporter Wealthy Cimini of ESPN stated on the most recent version of the “Flight Deck” podcast, Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora shared.
Smith compiled a 21-30 file as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2021-23 however might quickly develop into a coveted candidate amongst golf equipment looking for a brand new chief attributable to his efforts in serving to veteran Russell Wilson emerge as a quarterback able to guiding the 2024 Steelers to a Tremendous Bowl berth. In the meantime, the Jets seemingly had curiosity in Smith earlier this 12 months however could not persuade him to embrace what would have been a singular state of affairs.
It was reported again within the spring that the Jets “made official makes an attempt this offseason to rent somebody who would, primarily, substitute” much-maligned offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. After Johnson fired Saleh in October, SNY’s Connor Hughes revealed that the Jets “made makes an attempt” to rent Smith through the offseason.
“Whereas they weren’t going to eliminate Hackett,” Hughes stated concerning the Jets, “Smith would have assumed management of the offense. Smith as a substitute selected to affix the Steelers as their offensive coordinator.”
Cimini added in his replace that Smith becoming a member of the Jets “by no means actually bought significantly near taking place as a result of he knew he was gonna go to Pittsburgh.”
Predicting the Jets’ subsequent coach is basically inconceivable. As of the primary Friday of December, Johnson should rent a common supervisor and/or a workforce president of soccer operations. It is also price noting that the Jets have not formally selected quarterback Aaron Rodgers’s future.
It seems that even Rodgers understands Johnson needs to take a unique strategy to the game’s most necessary place, however a brand new GM or head coach might want to maintain the longer term Corridor of Famer as a bridge choice via 2025.