Possible Jets head coach puts up wild performance in NFL playoffs

The New York Jets are in the market for a new head coach, so much so that more than a dozen names are already either interviewed or have been requested to be interviewed. One of them is a fallen star in Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

Slowik became a coveted name after helping CJ Stroud put together one of the greatest rookie seasons in NFL history. In a year where many expected Stroud to take his spot among the elite, Slowik's regression has gone hand-in-hand with a so-so sophomore season.

In Houston's 32-12 win against the Los Angeles Chargers, Slowik was as up-and-down as could be. He had Stroud cooking for a good chunk of time, but many of his decisions were genuinely head-scratching.

While the Texans did run for 168 yards, many of those big gains came either from Stroud making something out of nothing or Joe Mixon eating up clock in the fourth quarter. Play calls like the Mixon fumble in Chargers territory and a hesitancy to completely lean on Collins contributed to some poor reviews.

There was plenty to write home about, however. Stroud did end up just a few ticks shy of 300 yards passing against one of the best defenses in the league, and the offense looked much more alive in the second half as Mixon got going and Stroud was able to create. Slowik was volatile again, which is reflective of his 2024 season.

Possible Jets HC Bobby Slowik calls volatile playoff game in Chargers-Texans

Slowik's viability as a head coach depends on which version of the Texans OC one thinks the Jets are getting. The 2023 version was a young stud on the cutting edge of modern offensive football, while the 2024 product is starting to look average as he tries to overthink things.

Slowik is also trying his best to overcome a horrid offensive line and an offense that has lost two of their four best skill position players in Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell due to injuries. If nothing else, Slowik looks capable of dialing up a solid passing game, even in a pressure situation against a quality opponent.

The Jets will likely retain their interest in Slowik, especially if he can keep redeeming himself against a higher seed in the postseason. The Chargers game showed off all the highs and lows fans could come to expect if he brings his offense to town.