Former Jets HC Adam Gase rumored to be in mix for OC role of AFC team

Could Adam Gase return to the NFL in 2022?

Little is known about the whereabouts of former New York Jets head coach Adam Gase since he was fired by New York in January 2021, concluding a horrific two-year tenure that featured a 9-23 record. He did not coach with any team at any level in the 2021 football season (at least based on what is known to the general public).

Rumors are circulating that Gase may soon be making his triumphant return to the National Football League.

Mike Girardi of NFL Network reports that Gase’s name “keeps popping up” when speaking to league sources about who may fill the New England Patriots‘ vacant offensive coordinator position. The role opened up when long-time OC Josh McDaniels left New England to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.

In addition to Bill O'Brien, Adam Gase's name keeps popping up when speaking to league sources about the #Patriots now vacant offensive coordinator position. In Foxboro, there's hope for an internal promotion, although that likely wouldn't come with the official OC title.

— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) February 4, 2022

Girardi also mentions former Texans head coach and five-year Patriots assistant Bill O’Brien (who held the OC role for the Pats in 2011) as a rumored candidate.

“In addition to Bill O’Brien, Adam Gase’s name keeps popping up when speaking to league sources about the #Patriots now vacant offensive coordinator position,” Girardi tweeted. “In Foxboro, there’s hope for an internal promotion, although that likely wouldn’t come with the official OC title.”

Prior to his year off in 2021, Gase had spent 18 consecutive seasons on an NFL coaching staff. He entered the league as a scouting assistant with the Detroit Lions in 2003 and spent five years with the team, working his way up to offensive assistant and then quarterbacks coach.

In 2008, Gase joined the 49ers as an offensive assistant. The following year, he went to Denver, beginning a six-year run with the Broncos. He spent his first two years as Denver’s wide receivers coach before working up to their quarterbacks coach role from 2011-12. Gase then became the Broncos’ offensive coordinator from 2013-14.

Chicago hired Gase as its offensive coordinator in 2015. His effort that season was enough to land him the head coaching role in Miami, where he spent three seasons.

After going 23-25 with the Dolphins, Gase was fired by the team and would be named the head coach of the Jets less than two weeks after being let go by Miami.

The rest is history (the wrong kind of it).