NY Jets might target this intriguing newly available OC candidate

There's a palpable excitement in the air among NY Jets fans surrounding new head coach Aaron Glenn. Returning to his former NFL home with plenty of fanfare, Glenn now faces the challenge of building a quality coaching staff if he hopes to find success in his new role.

No position will be more important for Glenn to fill than offensive coordinator. The Jets have been connected to a variety of interest candidates, with Los Angeles Rams tight ends coach/passing game coordinator Nick Caley emerging as the early favorite.

One new name that could pique their interest just became available, however. The Houston Texans made the surprising decision to fire offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, adding another potential top candidate to the OC market.

Slowik actually interviewed with the Jets for their vacant head coach position before the team hired Glenn. He could make some sense as an offensive coordinator target for the Jets if their Caley plans fall through.

Bobby Slowik is an interesting candidate for the NY Jets' OC job

A New Jersey native, Slowik began his coaching career as a defensive assistant in Washington from 2011 to 2013 before leaving to become an analyst for Pro Football Focus in 2014.

After a few years out of the coaching world, Slowik returned as a defensive quality control coach for the Sam Francisco 49ers in 2017, which is when his career started to take off.

Slowik developed a reputation as one of Kyle Shanahan's brightest young proteges, serving in a variety of roles between 2017 and 2022 before he was hired as the Texans' offensive coordinator.

The Texans' offense improved from 27th in scoring to 11th in Slowik's first season with the team, with many crediting him for assisting quarterback C.J. Stroud in his excellent rookie season. Houston's offense took a step back in 2024, however.

Stroud's performance regressed, the Texans' offensive line fell apart, and the team dealt with multiple major injuries to top wide receivers. Slowik wasn't absolved of blame, however, with many believing his stagnant offensive scheme contributed to Houston's offensive struggles.

Still, few expected the Texans to move on from the once highly-touted offensive-minded coach so soon. A year ago at this time, Slowik was viewed as one of the fastest-rising offensive minds in the NFL, with many touting him as a future head coach.

Slowik showed enough in his first season with the Texans to intrigue teams and given that the Jets were the only organization to bring him in for a head coach interview, it's fair to suggest he could be on their radar as an OC candidate.

Caley seems to be the frontrunner at the moment, while the likes of Scott Turner, Klint Kubiak, and Mark Brunell have all been mentioned in connection to the job. Slowik's unexpected departure from Houston could alter those plans.

It's fair to be concerned about Slowik's down year in 2024, but most expect him to be one of the top offensive coordinator candidates on the market for a reason. The Jets might hold a similar opinion.

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