Latest Josh McCown report could shake up NY Jets' head coach plans

The NY Jets have been scouring the coaching landscape in search of their next head coach over the last few weeks. The team has brought in some conventional names such as Aaron Glenn and Brian Flores and plenty of unconventional names.

One of the most intriguing of those unconventional candidates is current Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach Josh McCown. The Jets are the only team to bring McCown, their former quarterback, in for an interview this offseason.

That shouldn't come as much of a surprise, given that McCown has less than two full years of coaching experience at the NFL level. Still, many believe that McCown is a future NFL head coach, and the Jets may have been interested in speaking to him for other reasons.

Reports have circulated that the Jets may have been eyeing a potential pairing of Flores and McCown, both currently coaches in Minnesota, as the team's next head coach/offensive coordinator duo.

The idea made a ton of sense and was well-received among many Jets fans. Unfortunately, a recent report about McCown's intentions for 2025 dispels that proposal.

Josh McCown isn't willing to be the NY Jets' offensive coordinator

In an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show this week, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that McCown "is going to be in Minnesota next year unless he gets a head coaching job." It doesn't sound like McCown has any interest in being an offensive coordinator in 2025.

There was a lot to like about a potential Flores-McCown pairing. One of the most prominent criticisms levied against Flores during his time in Miami was his inability to put together competent offensive staffs.

Flores had four different offensive coordinators in just three seasons as the Dolphins' head coach, none of whom have been an OC at any level of football since. He even brought back Chan Gailey, who had been out of football for half a decade, to serve as his offensive coordinator for a year in 2020.

The hope was that Flores could align himself with McCown, a highly-regarded offensive mind from the Kevin O'Connell tree, if Flores landed a head coaching job this offseason. However, with McCown reportedly not pursuing an offensive coordinator role, that plan is off the table.

This not only makes Flores a less attractive candidate for the Jets but could also motivate the organization to pursue McCown more aggressively. If the Jets have a strong conviction about McCown as a coach, why not offer him a head coach position this offseason?

It’s often said it’s better to be a year too early than a year too late, and the consensus around the NFL is that McCown is destined to become a head coach sooner rather than later. Perhaps the Jets will be the team to take a big swing and get ahead of the curve for a change.

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