One NFL insider has suggested that the New York Jets go after a different former head coach for their open vacancy.
In her latest piece for The Athletic, Dianna Russini did not suggest that the Jets should look at not just Rex Ryan but also Eric Mangini as a potential candidate.
Visit our New York Jets News page to stay updated on the latest happenings.
“The Jets haven’t had a clear plan for winning both now and in the long term, and that’s exactly the kind of vision Mangini brought to the table when he coached the team from 2006 to ’08. One of the toughest challenges in the NFL is figuring out how to compete in the moment while building a foundation for consistent success, and Mangini showed he could do both,” wrote Russini.
“Think back to his first year with the Jets. Alongside GM Mike Tannenbaum, Mangini helped assemble one of the strongest rosters the franchise has ever had: Nick Mangold, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, and, of course, Darrelle Revis, arguably the greatest cornerback in NFL history. Those players became the backbone of the Jets’ success a few years later under Ryan. Johnson has called the current roster the best he’s ever had as the Jets’ owner, but I’d argue the team Mangini helped build was better.”
The insider also reported that the Jets “are open to all options at this point as they continue to gather information on who their top candidates will be.”
As a result, I personally feel that Mangini would be best suited for a front-office role. Without worrying about coaching, he could solely focus on building up the team’s culture and roster going forward. The biggest key would be finding a coaching staff to execute his vision.
The Jets have plenty of time to search, interview, and find the right candidates for their organization. Including Mangini in that search would be a smart decision for a team that needs plenty of guidance and a rebuilt culture.
