The New York Jets now have a spot to fill with Chan Gailey retiring. What will the new direction be on offense? Who are the best replacements?
After a pitiful effort on offense in 2016, it was time for the New York Jets to get a face-lift. That process was accelerated with Chan Gailey announcing his retirement from the game at the age of 65.Gailey was happily retired until head coach Todd Bowles came calling. He talked him out of retirement in hopes of chasing a championship, now he’s going back to the couch.
While this team didn’t make the playoffs during his tenure, the 2015 season will forever live in infamy.
It was a record-breaking year for the offense, the question is how can they get back to their offensive success. Here are the top-five candidates who give the Jets their best chance to do exactly that.
5. Norv Turner
Head coach Todd Bowles has already convinced one former coach out of retirement, why not another? Turner has had a long and successful career in the NFL.
From his days as the architect of the Dallas Cowboys dynasty in the 90’s, to his success as a head coach with the San Diego Chargers. Turner knows how to make offenses tick.
Before his sudden resignation this season with the Minnesota Vikings, he had their offense churning with Sam Bradford at the helm.
He’s a quarterback whisperer, has an uncanny ability to get production from the tight end position (a desperate need) and he can fully maximize the talent on any team.
Another question that needs to be answered is who will be the Jets starting quarterback in 2017. The answer to that question will go a long way in determining how good the Jets offense is next season.
4. Todd Haley
Now the possibility of this marriage is a bit farfetched. Not because of fit, but more so desire.
Todd Haley is in the midst of a playoff run with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He’s in a great spot and to make a lateral move to a conference opponent seems unlikely.
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Regardless, the Jets should attempt to speak with Haley because of his experience, his standard for excellence and his savvy. Haley has a knack for getting production out of young receivers.
Which should be a high point of emphasis for the Jets during their search for a new OC. Bowles would do himself justice by surrounding himself with a solid foundation of coaches.
3. Chip Kelly
While I can hear the collective groaning from the Jets fan base, hear me out for a second. His head coaching tenure in the NFL hasn’t exactly gone the way he had hoped.
But there are pillars of that fast-paced high-octane offense if he’s willing to adapt. Nothing to this point has shown that he’s willing, but he’s got the offensive expertise.
He would be a splashy hire that would bring a lot of hype and promise to 2017. Most analysts think that Kelly will head back to the collegiate world.
He just missed an opportunity to return to his old stomping grounds with Oregon hiring a new coach. Maybe he can rebuild his resume if he really has desires of staying in the NFL. If he can make the Jets offense look explosive, there will be plenty of teams vying for his services.
2. David Shaw
This would be perhaps one of the most intriguing hires for the Jets. Sometimes delving into the college ranks can pay huge dividends and sometimes it burns you.
Shaw was the pulse of all those talented Jim Harbaugh offenses back at Stanford and has the pedigree and the intuition to succeed at the next level.
If you take a look statistically at his teams throughout the years, he has adapted. The perfect system is the system that can adapt to the players that are available.
Having a strong running game got the Jets deep in the playoffs. Bringing Shaw in would bring back that emphasis on the running game while bringing a healthy balance through the air.
Creative and unpredictable play calling is his forte.
1. Mike McCoy
The No. 1 choice for the Jets is easy and conveniently he’s on the open market. Mike McCoy has everything you want in an offensive coordinator.
He can do a lot with nothing and the Jets have had exactly that for years now. Look at his track record making Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow into viable starters on offense.
Orton, a career journeyman, saw career-highs during his time with McCoy including being a top-10 passing attack back in 2010. When Tebow was their guy he adapted the offense and the Denver Broncos led the league in rushing.
He also has head coaching experience which only helps his resume. If the Jets aren’t on the phone with McCoy as you read this, something is drastically wrong with the decision-making at 1 Jets Drive.