All of us are old enough to remember the hype surrounding Robert Saleh‘s New York Jets welcome—even Jets X-Factor’s wunderkind Connor Long. (Sorry, Michael Nania; you were yesterday’s wunderkind and today’s grizzled vet.)
Fresh off the two-year Adam Gase disaster that felt like a decade-long torture chamber, the Jets’ new head coach in 2021 was set to arrive with a unique freshness that saw him leading the race by default.
This was so transparently the case that when Saleh left Florham Park, NJ, after his initial interview with then-general manager Joe Douglas and vice-chairman Christopher Johnson, Jets fans lost their collective minds.
“Don’t let him leave the building!” they screamed.
“Kidnap him before he even approaches Philadelphia!” they shouted in unison.
Ok, so maybe the kidnapping part didn’t happen, but the gusto for which the Jets fanbase voiced their opinions was unmistakable.
Of course, Saleh hopped aboard with his “hold-back guy” in tow and quickly introduced his “All Gas, No Brake” philosophy. This put Jets fans in a frenzied blender, not knowing exactly how to celebrate despite the feeling that celebration was, indeed, mandatory.
“Finally, the Jets have their guy. Finally, the Jets have a head coach who won’t put up with childish nonsense while firing up his players every step of the way.”
Even Jet X got in on the party by introducing “Stone Cold Saleh.”
It was perfect.
That was until it wasn’t.
Save for the rare moments Saleh could actually shout from the sidelines while utilizing his famed hold-back guy (a man who was seemingly overpaid, based on his part-time workload), the Jets’ most recent defensive-minded motivational-type coach fell short in a number of areas.
Not only were the Jets uninspiring on the field, but they were undisciplined, leading to questions surrounding a lack of accountability (just reference the penalty numbers in the Saleh regime). Not only were the Jets defensive first, but their game plans featured the defensive side of the ball to a degree that’s tough to imagine in today’s modern game.
Yet again, the Jets went with a defensive mind, and yet again, they found themselves totally burned.
Value innovation over motivation
For the Jets, it boils down to valuing the right head coaching attributes in 2025 NFL play. It’s time to trade motivation for innovation when thinking about your team’s next head coach’s most important trait.
Don’t be confused off the top: motivation still matters. As long as football resembles the game we knew it to be in the last quarter-century of the 20th century, emotions play a major role in it.
Thus, motivation is a tremendous factor.
Rex Ryan knew this. Taking over the ultra-talented Mike Tannenbaum-Eric Mangini team in 2009, Rex motivated his way to back-to-back AFC championship games.
Herm Edwards and Bill Parcells certainly knew it. The Tuna’s motivation tactics are the stuff of legend (Wayne Chrebet’s foot is still hurting after a Tuna kicked it), whereas Herm’s “you play to win the game” sermon shall forever ring true in pro football lore.
Saleh also knew how important motivation is to football. Saleh’s issue, however, was the level of importance he placed on that sole tactic.
Motivation loomed much larger in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Even Mangini’s time in the late 2000s was played under a set of rules that more closely resembled 1970s football than 2012.
What Saleh tried to accomplish best describes the Jets’ problem since making the playoffs last in 2010: He remained arrogant while ignorant or unwilling to change his ways to best adapt to the game we see play out on the field today.
Innovation rules the day, and the Jets would be wise to seek that trait above all else.
Reference the current landscape
When looking at the most successful NFL teams in recent years, it’s uncontroversial to say that offensive-minded head coaches rule the roost. Andy Reid, Kyle Shanahan, Nick Sirianni, and Dan Campbell lead four of the most stable and consistent teams.
While it’s important not to shortchange guys like John Harbaugh, Mike Tomlin, and Sean McDermott, it’s even more critical to realize that while these coaches aren’t “offensive” in nature, they aren’t stubborn enough to coach against the trends. The successful non-offensive sideline bosses wholly grasp today’s brand of ball.
Still, the past five Super Bowl championship teams have featured offensive-minded head coaches:
- 2024: Andy Reid (KC)
- 2023: Andy Reid (KC)
- 2022: Sean McVay (LAR)
- 2021: Bruce Arians (TB)
- 2020: Andy Reid (KC)
Moreover, each of the last five Super Bowl losers had offensive-minded head coaches in charge:
- 2024: Kyle Shanahan (SF)
- 2023: Nick Sirianni (PHI)
- 2022: Zac Taylor (CIN)
- 2021: Andy Reid (KC)
- 2020: Kyle Shanahan (SF)
Not only did the NFL in 2015 look far different than 2008, but what we see today is even further apart from 2015.
The more aggressive and conformist the NFL head coach is willing to travel, the more success his team will have. This isn’t just about fourth-down attempts, as it’s rather about offensive strategy in playing “ahead of the chains” as opposed to “managing the chains” and ensuring that the defense is never relied upon to win a game.
By no means does this brave new world eliminate defensive-minded head coaches, such as Detriot Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, but it amplifies the importance of how they describe their team vision.
Jets’ No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson busted spectacularly. Would he have failed this horrendously under the tutelage of Andy Reid, Sean McVay, or Kevin O’Connell?
Week after week, Jets fans witnessed Robert Saleh banging his head against the wall. The game plan wasn’t chameleon in nature at all, and it always featured defense and offensive management.
Offensively, the top goal was to establish a rushing attack—as preached when describing how his Mike LaFleur-led offense would resemble the Niners.
In his first game as head coach, in Carolina, circa 2021, we watched as the Jets repeatedly rushed the ball with no success. As time continued, Wilson’s freedom, shot-taking, early-down passing, and overall confidence decreased.
A football coach could not contrast with what works in today’s NFL more if he tried.
For instance, in last weekend’s wild-card round, McVay’s Los Angeles Rams jumped all over the Vikings by throwing the ball nine times in their first 10 plays and an incredible 21 passes to just 4 rush attempts in the first half as a whole. As the traditional football gods cried, the present football mortals sang McVay’s praises.
Thanks to Flores’s habit of sending pressure on early downs, McVay did exactly what yields success in today’s NFL: He threw the ball on nearly every down. Why mess around with the rushing attack when the defense is intent on sending five-plus on early downs?
Contrary to some beliefs—even some beliefs of NFL coaches—Super Bowl teams do not need to rush the ball well. Not these days.
That sort of dynamic thinking, versatility, and willingness to drop one’s pride is exactly what the Jets need to value above all else in this head coach search. It’s exactly what we mean by innovation—or conformity coupled with unique ideas and concepts that fit today’s pass-happy and defensive-discriminatory landscape.
Resist the interview emotions
Joe Douglas and Christopher Johnson described that they just “knew” Robert Saleh was the right man when they sat down with him (as seen and heard in one of the Jets’ original video productions, per “One Jets Drive”).
Saleh’s glowing presence and ideas are usually delivered with a fierceness that’ll have everybody willing to run through a wall. Throw Douglas and the Jets vice-chairman into that group in early 2021.
That’s exactly what Woody, Christopher, and Hymie Elhai must avoid this time around.
Resist the urge to allow a man to motivate a hiring.
Yes, motivation is a key trait when searching for a head coach. Yes, this talented yet unaccountable Jets team needs a genuine leader in the worst way—which should be thought of as “by default.”
All of that is unquestionably true.
What’s also true is that the Jets have gone down the motivation road for most of Woody Johnson’s tenure as Jets owner. Whether it was Saleh, Rex, or Herm, they were all players’ coaches who relied on their players playing hard for them.
It’s impossible to throw Gase into that mix, whereas Bowles simply had not yet caught up to the modern game—not until he saw how Bruce Arians and Tom Brady did things. Nonetheless, the motivation-first coach was much more impactful before this league changed.
There’s a legitimate reason why Rex’s coaching career dipped with each passing year, and it cannot boil down only to his crap personnel decisions: The league moved further away from his core principles and philosophies, all of which are conservative and defensive in nature.
Somebody like Andy Reid, who was constantly crucified in Philadelphia for “throwing the ball too much” two decades ago, stands on the other side of the fence. The NFL changed in a way that fits his core philosophies much better.
Avoid the emotional trap and stick to the questions that deal with a specific strategy that fits the modern game:
- What are your overall team vision and core football philosophies?
- How appropriate do you believe transparent accountability is when dealing with players?
- Do you believe defense is just as important as offense in today’s league?
Anybody who answers in a way that lifts defensive football on par with offense in today’s game should automatically be disqualified. (Sure, there are answers that say the right thing, providing the coach-speak vibe, but a real answer will be present.)
The New York Jets should absolutely still hold the candidacies of Aaron Glenn and Brian Flores in high regard, but due to the obvious ways of today’s game, they must start from a lower position on the mountain.
Guys like Josh McCown, Joe Brady, and Liam Coen have an absurd advantage. At least they should have a great advantage.
While lacking in experience, McCown begins his journey much closer to the top. The fact that he’s learned under Kevin O’Connell bumps him up even further. The fact that Liam Coen spent time with McVay should do the same.
As much as it pains me to say, thanks to my defensive background (as a former strong safety and current defensive-first high school coach), this is just the way it is. Those who don’t accept it will be left in the dust.
Recognize motivation in these interviews, but do not allow it to rule the process. Instead, value innovation above all else. Listen for the acute awareness that the candidate realizes that offensive aggression is the name of today’s game.
Hey, New York Jets, it’s time to get with the times: Hire the best leader who understands today’s brand of football best.
