The New York Jets have the right quarterback. Now they just need the right coach.
To become a contender in the NFL, there are two aspects that trump everything else: You need a good head coach and a good quarterback. Most Super Bowl-winning teams have had the right coach-quarterback combination, and it’s eluded the Jets for far too long.
The Jets haven’t been seriously considered Super Bowl contenders in a long time but seemingly have found their quarterback in 21-year-old Sam Darnold, who just completed his rookie season. Now all they need is the right coach to go with Darnold, and they might finally be cooking.
After the conclusion of the 2018 season, the Jets parted ways with Todd Bowles, and are now in the market for a new head coach. If they hire the right guy — someone who can help Darnold grow on a pretty impressive rookie campaign in which he threw for 2,865 yards and 17 touchdowns in just 13 games — then they could finally be on the verge of turning the tables in the AFC East.
One such candidate for the coaching job could potentially be Mike McCarthy, the former head coach of the Green Bay Packers who won Super Bowl XLV with Aaron Rodgers. Regardless, Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan believes the presence of Darnold makes New York a desirable landing spot for a head coach.
“I would think, given the opportunity, I would like the potential head coaches that come through here to have a chance to spend a little time with (Darnold) just so they get a feel for Sam,” Maccagnan said, via the official New York Jets website. “We definitely want to make sure they have a plan in place to develop our young quarterback.”
The Jets have been pining for the perfect coach-quarterback combination for a very long time, but it has been very few and far between in the Meadowlands. With Darnold, however, they are halfway there, and as they continue their search for a head coach, this will be a very crucial offseason for the franchise.