The New York Jets are looking toward Tennessee for additions to their coaching staff
According to a report from CBS’ Jonathan Jones, the New York Jets are hiring former Tennessee Titans coach Tony Dews as their new running backs coach. Under former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, Dews was both a running backs coach and a tight ends coach.
The Jets are hiring Tony Dews as their next running backs coach, source says. He previously coached the running backs and tight ends over the past 6 years with the Titans.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 27, 2024
Additionally, according to SNY’s Connor Hughes, the Jets recently interviewed former Titans wide receivers coach Rob Moore for their own wide receivers coach position. This would likely mean they are looking to move on from current coach Zach Azzanni, who is still under contract with the team.
Sources: The #Jets recently interviewed Rob Moore, who spent last year with the #Titans, for a job as their WRs coach.
He has an additional interview scheduled with the #Bears.
A unique situation because Zach Azzanni, #NYJ’s current receivers coach, is still under contract. pic.twitter.com/kVv8oJ0zSm
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) January 27, 2024
Moore has a prior history with the Jets, playing as a wide receiver from 1990 to 1994.
Outside of Moore’s playing days in New York, he and Dews share a link to their coaching days with the Titans under Vrabel. If brought onto the staff, he would join Dews, Todd Downing, and Keith Carter as former Titans coaches in New York.
While it remains to be seen how these new coaches will fare in New York, it is odd that the Jets are targeting coaches from an offense that has joined them among the league’s worst the past two seasons.
The Titans have not been known for their skill position development, specifically at wide receiver, or getting the most out of their offensive talent as a whole.
While that does not necessarily mean these are bad hires, the addition of Dews and the potential addition of Moore show that Robert Saleh wants to play it safe in a hot-seat season. The Jets’ head coach is keying in on familiar staffers rather going outside of the box, similar to what he did with Downing and Carter last offseason.
There needs to be considerable improvement from the Jets on offense in 2024, even when considering an elevated floor with the return of Aaron Rodgers. While these hires do not alleviate much uncertainty on their own, they add further comfortability to the staff.
