The New York Jets kicked off Black Monday by firing head coach Rex Ryan yesterday after six years with the team. Despite player support, owner Woody Johnson felt he had to move on from Ryan after the team missed out on the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Now Jets fans have to ask themselves: Who will be Ryan's replacement?
ESPN's Tom Carpenter reports that New York has three names on its list: Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and UCLA head coach Jim Mora. Each candidate has their strengths.
Bowles has helped navigate the Cardinals through a slew of crushing injuries to key defensive players this season. An 11-5 record for a Cardinals team that had to rely on Drew Stanton and Ryan Lindley for much of the season has the DC as one of the hotter head coaching candidates entering the offseason. The Jets hired former Washington Redskins and Houston Texans general manager Charley Casserly to help oversee the team's head coaching search. Casserly is reportedly "very high" on Bowles.
Quinn is also a popular name thrown around vacant head coaching situations. In the two years Quinn has served as Seattle's defensive coordinator, the Seahawks have finished the regular season with the top overall defense. A Super Bowl ring is also a major boost to his case as a potential head coach. The Jets will meet with Quinn on Saturday to discuss the position.
Mora has the most head coaching experience out of all of New York's top candidates. He's 31-33 overall as a head coach in the NFL, having spent three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons and one season with the Seahawks. CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reports that Mora is "viewed as a very strong candidate within that organization."
The Jets finished this season last in the AFC East at 4-12. They haven't had a winning season since 2010. Whomever Johnson ultimately hires will have to produce wins quickly for a fan base that is starving for a winner.
