Jets CEO Johnson, GM Maccagnan have a plan in place for coaching search
Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan speaks to the press at a post season wrap up. Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, NJ, on Dec. 31, 2018. Credit: Corey Sipkin
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Constantly chasing and always having to look up to the Patriots keeps Jets CEO Christopher Johnson up at night. He’s entrusting Mike Maccagnan to help him get some sleep.
Johnson fired coach Todd Bowles on Sunday after the Jets finished 4-12, but Maccagnan remains the general manager. He will be the one in charge of finding a new coach and putting together a team that someday can not only surpass the Patriots in the AFC East but be a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
“Looking at the plan we have going forward,” Johnson said, “I’m a believer in Mike.”
Some would call it blind faith, given that Maccagnan assembled the rosters that have resulted in 5-11, 5-11 and 4-12 records the past three seasons. Bowles took the fall for it, but now it’s Maccagnan who has to turn things around.
The process began Monday, as the Jets started reaching out to candidates for a vacancy that Johnson described as “a good landing spot” for coaches.
They reportedly requested permission to speak to Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Cowboys defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator Kris Richard and Bucs offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
Others who could emerge include former Packers coach Mike McCarthy, former Dolphins coach Adam Gase, Rams quarterback coach Zac Taylor, Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, Saints offense coordinator Pete Carmichael and tight ends coach Dan Campbell, and Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski.
The Jets say they’re not pigeonholing themselves with only offensive-minded coaches, but if a coaching candidate already had developed a young quarterback, Johnson said it would be “a big plus.’’ Obviously, finding someone who can maximize Sam Darnold’s potential is a priority.
“The person doesn’t necessarily have to be an offensive- or defensive-minded head coach per se,” Maccagnan said. “But we want to make sure they have a plan in place to try to develop our young quarterback.”
Johnson wouldn’t rule out hiring a college coach. Iowa State’s Matt Campbell reportedly declined the Jets’ request to interview him.
The search it will be done by Johnson and Maccagnan. Brian Heimerdinger, the Jets’ vice president of player personnel, also will be involved. But this is the first time Johnson or Maccagnan will lead a coaching search.
Johnson took over the Jets two years ago when his brother Woody became the United States’ ambassador to the United Kingdom. This is Maccagnan’s first job as a general manager, and he was brought in at the same time as Bowles.
Maccagnan said he sat in on interviews when he was in the Texans’ front office and made phone calls or did research on candidates. “For the most part,” he said, “this will be the first time going through it in terms of my responsibility.”
That doesn’t concern Johnson, who said they have a plan in place to turn the Jets into a winner. “I think Mike is a good talent evaluator, period,” he said.
The Jets will have about $100 million in cap room for free agency. They have the No. 3 overall draft pick, two third-round picks and selections in the fourth, sixth and seventh rounds.
It’s Maccagnan’s show now, but Johnson said “there’s no mandate” to make the playoffs in 2019. “I’ve worked with Mike for a while,” Johnson said. “We’ve developed what I think is a good plan. It’s a plan we’re in sync on, and it really came together with Sam. Now we’re going to be able to build with Sam, build around Sam and with some great players we have on this team already.
“I think it’s a good plan. I’m looking forward to working with him to take us to the next level, including this coach hire.”
Making the trade to move up in the draft order and pick Darnold, and drafting Jamal Adams and Chris Herndon, have been very good moves by Maccagnan. But he also has swung and missed on many draft picks (Christian Hackenberg, Bryce Petty, Dylan Donohue and Devin Smith, to name a few) and some free-agent signings.
Maccagnan knows he must do better.
“There’s definitely things that where the team is right now that are a result of some of the decisions I made that have not worked out well,” he said. I definitely know I have to do a better job in certain areas. But I also feel confident that we have added some good pieces. I think we have some good young players . . . We positioned this team very well in terms of salary cap. It’s going to give us definite ability to augment our talent base. The big thing is keep trying to make good decisions moving forward.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
