If Rex Ryan Goes, the New York Jets Need an Experienced Coach at the Helm

Like it or not, the chances are pretty good that the Jets are going to say goodbye to head coach Rex Ryan at the end of the 2014 NFL season. My readers know how I feel about Rex Ryan; I am and always will be a huge fan. Coach has given me a lot of pride about my New York Jets that I haven’t felt in years. But sadly, when a season goes down the bowl the way this one has, and you have four consecutive seasons without reaching the playoffs, the coach takes the fall.

So, we at the Jet Press have started discussing candidates to replace coach Ryan in 2015, should the inevitable happen and he is relieved of his duties. Our good buddy Craig Hoffman wrote a great piece earlier in the week, making the case for David Shaw of Stanford as the man for the job.  Please check it out if you haven’t, it is a quite insightful piece.

Fans, and even bloggers, often disagree on the direction of their football team.  In this situation, I feel a little bit different than Craig does.  To me, the Jets need to find themselves a coach with previous NFL experience.  Going with any first year coach, not just David Shaw, is not the right move, for a couple of reasons.

More from Jets News

• NY Jets should target TE Hunter Henry in free agency
• NY Jets: Why the team should target cornerback Shaquill Griffin
• NY Jets reportedly non-tendering linebacker Harvey Langi
• NY Jets: Why the team should not cut Jamison Crowder
• NY Jets should try to sign Kenny Golladay in free agency

First of all, we have had a lot of first year coaches come through the doorways to coach the New York Jets.  Al Groh, Herman Edwards, Eric Mangini, and Rex Ryan all cut their teeth as NFL coaches here with the Jets.  Did they all have some success?  To varying degrees, yes they did.  But, none of them took the team to where we want to see them go, and that is the Super Bowl.  After this many years, and all the years prior to that, we need to change the formula.  Going with a rookie head coach has not taken the Jets where they want to go.  It’s time to change.

Secondly, the Jets have a credibility problem.  Bill Parcells brought the Jets instant credibility, after becoming a joke at the hands of Rich Kotite.  Since then, we have had the parade of coaches, ending here with Rex Ryan.  We have seen the Favre thing, that other backup quarterback, the Santonio Holmes stuff, and all of the other issues that have taken to the New York Jets.  In many circles, the Jets have become the laughingstock of the league again.  The Jets need to reestablish that credibility that they enjoyed during the Bill Parcells years.  They will not be able to attain that level of credibility with a first year head coach.

Woody Johnson needs to open up his checkbook to bring in an established head coach.  If Jim Harbaugh truly is available, it should be him.  If not, throw the money at anyone with the experience.  See what it would take to bring in Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden, Brian Billick, or anyone else that has solid NFL experience.  Bring in one of these guys.  Bring the credibility back to the New York Jets.