Jets quickly narrow offensive coordinator search down to three finalists

The Jets seem to have their OC finalists.

Justin Fried

New York Jets offensive coordinator candidate Darrel Bevell / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The New York Jets appear to be in the final stages of hiring a new offensive coordinator following the surprise decision to part ways with Tanner Engstrand last week. Now, the team seems to have its three finalists.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on Saturday that longtime NFL offensive coordinator Greg Roman was set to meet in person with the Jets early this week, as one of three finalists for the job.

NFL insider Josina Anderson reported Sunday morning that former Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Darrell Bevell is also interviewing in person with the Jets on Monday, making him the second known finalist.

And while reports haven't officially confirmed it, the widely expected belief is that former NFL head coach Frank Reich will be the third finalist — and presumed favorite — for the Jets' offensive coordinator position. Reich will likely meet with the Jets again early this week.

The Jets appear to have three finalists for their offensive coordinator job

All indications continue to be that Reich is the odds-on favorite to be the Jets' next offensive coordinator. Reich spent five years a head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2022 after helping lead the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl as their OC.

He enjoyed moderate success in Indianapolis, reaching the playoffs twice before being fired midway through the 2022 season. Reich resurfaced as the head coach of the Panthers the following year, only to make unwanted history by becoming the first coach ever fired midseason in back-to-back years after a disastrous 1–10 start in 2023.

Roman has over a decade of offensive coordinator experience at the NFL level, most recently serving as Justin Herbert's OC in Los Angeles following a four-year stint with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.

Roman has long been praised for designing complex and effective rushing attacks, but his overall play-calling and ability to coordinate passing games have often drawn criticism. That profile makes him a logical candidate for an assistant role with the Jets, potentially as a running game coordinator working under Reich.

The same could be true for Bevell, who most recently spent four years as a top offensive assistant with the Dolphins. Like Roman, Bevell has over a decade of NFL offensive coordinator experience, but his best role is probably as a passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach at this stage.

It is very possible the Jets are interviewing Roman and Bevell for roles on Reich’s staff, if reports are to be believed. Either way, it appears likely the Jets will have their new offensive coordinator in place at some point this week, sooner rather than later.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.