The New York Jets have reached an agreement with Todd Bowles to become their next head coach, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. The deal is reportedly for four years and $16 million, according to Rich Cimini of ESPNNew York.com.
New York's new general manager Mike Maccagnan, along with team owner Woody Johnson and consultants Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf, met with Bowles yesterday in the New York area to finalize the agreement. Bowles, who spent the last two seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals, was scheduled to meet with the Atlanta Falcons today before coming to terms with the Jets.
Bowles, 51, served as the Jets defensive backs coach during the 2000 season and comes from the coaching tree of Hall of Famer Bill Parcells.
One thing the Jets like about Bowles was the staff he intended to bring with him to New York. Former Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey is expected to be hired as offensive coordinator while Miami Dolphins defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers if likely to be Bowles' defensive coordinator.
The Jets had been rumored to be enamored with Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, but the uncertainty of his time frame to take over with Seattle still in the playoffs coupled with Bowles' impressive interviews led them to this decision.
Bowles is the sixth consecutive Jets head coach with a defensive background. He is following in the footsteps of Rex Ryan, Eric Mangini, Herm Edwards, Al Groh and Parcells, who all were defense-first coaches.
Under Bowles, the Cardinals allowed the fifth-fewest points in the NFL this season, despite a slew of injuries to key defensive personnel. In 2013, Arizona finished the regular season as the sixth-ranked overall defense and surrendered the fewest rushing yards in the league.
