Jets dream head coach door may have just opened after surprising report

The New York Jets have limped to the finish line of a challenging — and at times embarrassing — 2025 season. Aaron Glenn’s first year on the job has been underwhelming, but all indications suggest the organization has no plans to move on from him despite the team’s continued struggles.

But you can never say never in the world of sports. There remains a slight possibility that, if the right coach becomes a realistic option, the Jets could consider firing Glenn in pursuit of greener pastures.

Of course, any such coach would need to be interested in coming to Florham Park, but the dream remains, and for many, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin sits at the top of that list.

Tomlin has remarkably never posted a losing record in all 19 seasons as the Steelers’ head coach, a streak that has continued this year despite the ghost of Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and a roster that is less talented than usual.

But there still remains a possibility that Pittsburgh misses the postseason, and entering a winner-take-all matchup with the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday, Tomlin's future with the Steelers appears to be a little in doubt.

Could Mike Tomlin be an actual target for the Jets in the offseason?

ESPN's Adam Schefter mentioned Monday on The Pat McAfee Show that it is “in the realm of possibility” that Tomlin could part ways with the Steelers if his team loses this weekend. Schefter added that Tomlin could opt to enter the television world or choose to coach elsewhere next season.

The decision will ultimately be up to him. It doesn't sound like the Steelers would ever fire Tomlin, at least not at this time. If Tomlin leaves, it will be on his own accord.

Rumors of a potential Tomlin departure have circulated for years without ever materializing, but the Steelers’ prolonged playoff victory drought has only fueled the noise. Pittsburgh has not won a postseason game in nearly a decade, and the fan base has grown increasingly restless.

If Tomlin were to become available and decide to coach in 2026, he would certainly have his fair share of suitors. That doesn't mean the Jets would be near the top of his list, but you would expect Woody Johnson to at least put out some feelers.

Many have compared the Glenn situation in New York to the Jerod Mayo situation in New England a year ago. The Patriots did not necessarily plan to move on from Mayo, but once it became clear that Mike Vrabel wanted to coach his former team, the organization pivoted and seized the opportunity.

But for that to happen with the Jets, they would need assurance that Tomlin — or any high-profile head coach, for that matter — actually wanted to coach the Jets. It's hard to imagine that happening.

Tomlin remains a pipe dream for that reason, a long-shot scenario that would require multiple unlikely pieces to fall into place before it ever becomes more than speculation.

But at the very least, it is something to fantasize about as the Jets appear headed toward a fifth straight 20-point blowout loss to close out what has become a miserable 2025 season. Let's just get to the offseason already, shall we?