New York Jets complete interviews with Brandon Staley, Arthur Smith

01/11/2021

The New York Jets have completed interviews with Los Angeles Rams DC Brandon Staley and Tennessee Titans OC Arthur Smith.

And then there were eight. The New York Jets have completed interviews with eight candidates. Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley had his day on Sunday, just a day prior to Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith had his.

The Jets announced the two completed interviews on Sunday and Monday, respectively.

We have completed an interview with Brandon Staley for our head coaching vacancy.

📰 https://t.co/hIyGJzSSrE pic.twitter.com/aJAP9CEIIX

— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 11, 2021

We have completed an interview with Arthur Smith for our head coaching vacancy.

📰 https://t.co/wHQ1XEdLTd pic.twitter.com/CnOX0Is4bV

— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 11, 2021

Staley, 38, led the league’s No. 1 ranked defense this past season. The Rams relented just 281.9 yards per game, 22.3 fewer yards than the No. 2 ranked defense, the Washington Football Team. In 2019, with Staley in Denver, Los Angeles finished 13th in total defense.

Prior to his stop with the Broncos in 2019, Staley served as outside linebackers coach for the Chicago Bears in 2017 and 2018. It was the Perry, OH native’s first NFL coaching job.

Smith, 38, has garnered interest from pretty much every team currently looking for a head coach. His Titans offense finished third in yards per game this past season, with Derrick Henry capping off his second-straight rushing title.

Starting with Tennessee in 2011 as a defensive quality control coach, Smith has worked his way up the ladder over the last 10 years. After serving as the tight ends coach from 2016 to 2018, he took offensive coordinator duties in 2019.

Jets coaching-candidate tracker

New York Jets head-coaching candidate tracker — Jet X Graphic

Aaron Glenn is expected to interview later on Monday, upping the team’s total interview count to nine. The former Jet and current New Orleans Saints defensive backs coach remains an interesting under-the-radar candidate worth tracking.