Dec. 5, 11:20 a.m.
The Jets have long stressed a defensive indentity, as five of their past six head coaches entered the coveted job with years of experience coaching that side of the ball. But if the franchise wants to find an offensive-minded leader, there’s a name floating around that only few expected to utter.
While recently speaking on his Flight Desk podcast, ESPN reporter Rich Cimini hinted that Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith can be considered a “darkhorse candidate” for the Jets’ job. Cimini supported the claim by noting how ex-Jets head coach Robert Saleh wanted Smith on his coaching staff last season, to supervise the offense and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
Smith, who joined the Steelers’ coaching staff in February, spent three frustrating seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons (2021-23). He compiled a mediocre 21-30 record, failed to make the playoffs, and implemented an ineffective scheme. In 2021, the Falcons’ offense ranked 29th in yards and 26th in points. The situation didn’t improve, either — the unit ranked 26th in points again last year, despite having a superstar talent in rooking running back Bijan Robinson.
The Falcons fired Smith last offseason, and since joining the Steelers, their offense has produced some mixed results. While the rushing offense currently ranks ninth (133.1 yards per game) in the league, they’ve scored on just 44 percent of red zone trips.
Dec. 4, 3:30 p.m.
While the Jets prepare for their fourth head coaching search in the past decade, a handful of potential candidates are coming to the forefront. And one of the most popular names has only been away from the sideline for a year.
During the latest episode of ESPN’s Flight Desk podcast, Jets reporter Rich Cimini mentioned that former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel has already expressed interest in the job to others. But, there’s one important stipulation — he must be on board with who the franchise selects as its next general manager.
Vrabel, who spent six seasons as the Titans’ head coach (2018-2023), compiled a 54-45 regular-season record with four winning campaigns and three playoff appearances. The height of his success came in 2019, as the team unexpectedly reached the AFC Championship Game. Tennessee finished with losing records in his last two seasons, and he was fired in Jan. 2024.
If the Jets want another defensive-minded leader, Vrabel’s certainly an appealing option. The Titans averaged 21.8 points allowed during his tenure, and finished top-10 in the category twice. He’ll be in high demand, however, with the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, and possibly other teams joining the coaching carousel in the coming weeks. Vrabel went unhired last offseason, and joined the Cleveland Browns as a consultant back in March.
