On Saturday, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini suggested the New York Jets should consider a former head coach who comes from the Bill Belichick family.
While former Jets head coach Rex Ryan continues to make his case, Russini suggested the team should consider Eric Mangini for a potential role in the organization.
“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,” Russini wrote. “One of the toughest challenges in the NFL is figuring out how to compete in the moment while building a foundation for consistent success. Mangini showed he could do both.”
Appearing on FS1’s “The Herd,” Mangini acknowledged that he had recently heard his name floating in the Jets ether.
“I obviously am not lobbying for the job, but I feel pretty good about what I did while I was there,” Mangini said.
In 2006, at 35, Mangini made history as the NFL’s youngest coach. In his first season with the Jets, he led the team to a 10-6 record and a playoff appearance.
Mangini followed a solid rookie season with a disappointing 4-12 campaign before the Brett Favre madness commenced. After a brutal finish to the 2008 season with Favre, Mangini was later fired one day after the 9-7 season concluded.
After his Jets life, Mangini was hired by the Cleveland Browns as head coach. He spent two seasons there, leading the team to two consecutive 5-11 seasons before being canned after the 2010 season.
Since then, Mangini has yet to receive another head coach opportunity in the NFL.
During his three seasons with the Jets, Mangini helped draft three franchise legends, including center Nick Mangold, offensive lineman D’Brickashaw Ferguson, and Hall of Famer Darelle Revis.
Although it seems unlikely, Eric Mangini did not rule out a potential return to the New York Jets.
