Mike McCarthy bombshell could allow NY Jets to hire their top HC candidate

The NY Jets might owe Jerry Jones a thank-you note. The Dallas Cowboys have reportedly made the decision to part ways with head coach Mike McCarthy after five seasons with the organization. This unexpected move could open the door for the Jets to pursue their top head coach candidate.

While the Jets are not expected to have interest in the longtime Green Bay Packers head coach, despite his obvious ties to Aaron Rodgers, McCarthy figures to draw plenty of interest from other teams.

One of those teams is the New Orleans Saints. Saints insider Nick Underhill is reporting that New Orleans is expected to be "very interested" in McCarthy now that his contract has expired.

ESPN's Adam Schefter confirmed that report in an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, insisting that McCarthy is expected to be a "strong candidate" for the Saints job. This directly affects the Jets and their pursuit of a candidate who many believe is the team's top choice at this time.

Mike McCarthy news could help the NY Jets land Aaron Glenn

The Jets identified Mike Vrabel as their top head coach candidate early in the process, but with the former Titans coach now on his way to New England, the next obvious choice for the team is Aaron Glenn.

Glenn has been closely connected to the Jets for a number of months now and has deep ties to the organization. The prevailing belief around the NFL is that the current Detroit Lions defensive coordinator will be hired by either the Jets or the Saints.

Some believe that the Saints, who Glenn previously coached for, have the edge at the moment, but everything changes now that McCarthy has become available. New Orleans' pursuit of McCarthy could indirectly lead to the Jets hiring Glenn.

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The Jets' reported top three candidates entering the coaching carousel were Vrabel, Glenn, and Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Glenn seems more likely than ever following the McCarthy news.

Glenn was a defensive backs coach for the Saints between 2016 and 2020 and still has a ton of friends in that building. Many believe that if given a choice between the Jets and Saints — two of the least desirable head coach vacancies — he would choose to return to New Orleans.

The Jets may not be directly affected by McCarthy's ousting, but Jerry Jones' controversial decision to part ways with his now-former coach could cause a ripple effect around the coaching world — a ripple effect that could lead to the Jets hiring their former cornerback.

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