It was recently reported that former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel “would consider” becoming the next head coach of the New York Jets, depending on who team owner Woody Johnson hires as the franchise’s new general manager.
A different former head coach was linked with the Jets ahead of the weekend.
“Another name to watch, he’s kind of a dark horse candidate — Arthur Smith, currently the [Pittsburgh Steelers’] offensive coordinator. He was one of the runner-ups to [Robert Saleh] in 2021,” Jets reporter Rich Cimini of ESPN said on the latest edition of the “Flight Deck” podcast, Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora shared.
Smith compiled a 21-30 record as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2021-23 but could soon become a coveted candidate among clubs searching for a new leader due to his efforts in helping veteran Russell Wilson emerge as a quarterback capable of guiding the 2024 Steelers to a Super Bowl berth. Meanwhile, the Jets seemingly had interest in Smith earlier this year but couldn’t convince him to embrace what would have been a unique situation.
It was reported back in the spring that the Jets “made legitimate attempts this offseason to hire someone who would, essentially, replace” much-maligned offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. After Johnson fired Saleh in October, SNY’s Connor Hughes revealed that the Jets “made attempts” to hire Smith during the offseason.
“While they were not going to get rid of Hackett,” Hughes said about the Jets, “Smith would have assumed control of the offense. Smith instead chose to join the Steelers as their offensive coordinator.”
Cimini added in his update that Smith joining the Jets “never really got seriously close to happening because he knew he was gonna go to Pittsburgh.”
Predicting the Jets’ next coach is essentially impossible. As of the first Friday of December, Johnson must hire a general manager and/or a team president of football operations. It’s also worth noting that the Jets haven’t officially decided on quarterback Aaron Rodgers’s future.
It seems that even Rodgers understands Johnson wants to take a different approach to the sport’s most important position, but a new GM or head coach could wish to keep the future Hall of Famer as a bridge option through 2025.
