3 NY Jets head coach candidates reportedly considered favorites for the job

The NY Jets are still in the relatively early stages of their search for a new head coach this offseason, which should be expected given that the team is set to bring in as many as 15 different candidates for the job.

It's still too early to accurately predict who the Jets will hire, but a few notable favorites have emerged. ESPN's Dan Graziano reported this week that the three names most strongly connected to the Jets head coach job have been Mike Vrabel, Aaron Glenn, and Brian Flores.

Vrabel has reportedly been the Jets' preferred candidate for weeks now, and he was also one of the first coaches the team brought in for an interview. Unfortunately, most reports indicate Vrabel is likely to choose another destination.

The same could be true for Glenn and Flores, who have each drawn considerable interest from other teams. The Jets seem to have their top three targets, but it remains to be seen if they will be able to land any of them.

Who will the NY Jets hire as their next head coach?

The expectation around the league is that Vrabel will eventually end up in New England. While other teams such as the Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders have shown interest, the Patriots are widely seen as the favorites to land Vrabel.

That could change if Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is interested in the Patriots job, but either way, the Jets are not seen as a realistic landing spot for the ex-Titans head coach. Never say never — but don't count on it.

As for Glenn, the rumor mill suggests he will have his choice between the Jets and New Orleans Saints' jobs. Glenn has deep ties to both organizations, having played nearly a decade with the Jets before a brief stint in New Orleans at the end of his career.

Glenn also served as a personnel scout for the Jets in 2012-2013 and as the Saints' defensive backs coach between 2016 and 2020. There's a very real chance that he will take the New Orleans job.

That would leave the Jets with Flores as their final top candidate. Flores is a New York native who fits the archetype of coach the Jets are looking for, but he too will have interest from other teams. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears have all both put in requests to interview him as well.

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If the Jets fail to land any of their top candidates, the team will be forced to resort to their fallback options. Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy seems like a realistic (albeit underwhelming choice), especially if the Jets hire Mike Borgonzi from the Chiefs to be their GM.

The team could also swing for the fences on a candidate like Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach Josh McCown. Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady also makes sense, but he might be able to find a job elsewhere.

The Jets realize they're not the most attractive job opening on the market, but if it were up to them, one of Vrabel, Glenn, or Flores would be the team's next head coach as of right now.

With the interview process still ongoing, that very well could change in the near future. But if you're placing bets on the next Jets coach, look no further than the trio of candidates listed above.

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