New York Jets are moving on from offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur
Three days after their season finale, the New York Jets have made the decision to search for a new offensive coordinator. However, this is not being framed as a firing.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Jets and Mike LaFleur are “mutually parting ways”.
Sources: The #Jet and OC Mike LaFleur are mutually parting ways. pic.twitter.com/yszByaBUB4
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 11, 2023
The Athletic’s Connor Hughes says the Jets were planning to bring LaFleur back as the OC until several other teams reached out to him. At that point, the Jets had a discussion with LaFleur that resulted in their decision to allow him to pursue those opportunities.
The #Jets were planning to bring Mike LaFleur back as their offensive coordinator in 2023.
Several other teams reached out. The #NYJ talked to LaFleur. After that discussion, they agreed to allow him to pursue those opportunities.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) January 11, 2023
LaFleur, 36, is coming off a tumultuous season as the Jets’ offensive coordinator. He was forced to navigate his way around brutal quarterback play and numerous injuries to key players. Ultimately, though, the results are the results. LaFleur’s unit struggled through chronic third-down and red-zone issues on its way to a No. 29 ranking in points per game (17.4), which is even worse than their No. 28 ranking in a four-win 2021 campaign (18.2).
When he was hired in 2021, Jets head coach Robert Saleh brought LaFleur with him from the San Francisco 49ers, where LaFleur was San Francisco’s passing game coordinator.
The LaFleur conundrum is a difficult one to figure out. On one hand, the results speak for themselves, but on the other hand, it often seemed like the Jets’ lack of offensive production had more to do with execution than play-calling.
Nonetheless, it appears the Jets will be moving in a new direction on the offensive side of the ball. The Mike LaFleur era has come to a swift end in Florham Park.
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You can blame execution but in a couple of the games that White played in and did well there were still red zone problems, especially the Minnesota game. I came away from watching that game thinking something was wrong with the offense, although I didn’t know what it was. Plus, I wonder what the personal relationship was like between Zach and LaFleur, haven’t heard much about that.
Greg Olsen please whether OC or QB coach