NY Jets: Adam Gase could be on the Patriots’ coaching staff next year

NY Jets’ head coach Adam Gase could be on the Patriots’ coaching staff next year.

The NY Jets will enter Sunday’s season finale with Adam Gase as their head coach. But within 24 hours following the conclusion of their 16th and final game of the season, Gase will be looking for a new place of employment.

The heavily-criticized coach is set to finish his second full season with the Jets — one that will assuredly be his last. And to be honest, after starting 1-7 and 0-13 in each of those two seasons, it’s amazing he was able to avoid being fired midseason.

While he may deny that ownership has already informed him of his firing, he and the rest of the football world knows the inevitable is coming. It’s only a matter of a few days at this point.

But while the focus has understandably been on who the Jets could look to replace Gase with, less attention has been paid to what Gase will do in his post-Jets career.

Coincidentally, there appears to be some buzz around Gase joining the coaching staff of the very team he’s set to face off with this Sunday — the New England Patriots.

NY Jets’ head coach Adam Gase might remain in the AFC East after all

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer spoke about the possibility a few days ago and indicated that Gase’s prior ties to members of the Patriots’ staff could open the door for him to stay in the AFC East.

The Patriots just lost their QB coach, Jedd Fisch, who was hired by the University of Arizona to be the school’s next head coach. That leaves an opening that Breer believes Gase could fill.

“QB coach Jedd Fisch is gone and OC Josh McDaniels might be too. Jets coach Adam Gase (assuming he’s fired) could factor into the new setup. Gase worked for McDaniels in Denver.”

Breer also listed a couple of other names that could be in-line for the job, but Gase was the most notable. In fact, Gase and Josh McDaniels go even further back than Breer points out as the two worked together as low-level assistants on Nick Saban’s staff at Michigan State.

In Denver, Gase was the Broncos’ wide receiver coach while McDaniels served as the team’s head coach. Aside from McDaniels, New England’s offensive coordinator, Bill Belichick remains very complimentary of his coaching foe.

“I think Adam’s done a great job this year of continuing to improve the team with coaching. As usual, his excellent game plan and play-calling are problems for the defense. This is a team that’s gotten better.”

How much of this is just coach-speak as opposed to legitimate praise? It’s impossible to say. But the evidence is there that Gase could join the Patriots’ coaching staff upon his inevitable firing.

Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and Gase’s future ousting might not be the only “fire” this week.