NFL rumors: The New York Jets kept around head coach Adam Gase all season, thinking he might give them the best chance to land the No. 1 overall pick and Trevor Lawrence. With the team locked into the No. 2 overall pick and Sunday marking the end of the season, Gase’s tenure in New York will soon draw to a close.
Months after fans started calling for Gase to be fired, the wish is finally going to come true. The veteran coach knows what’s coming and it seems the announcement is just hours away.
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NFL rumors: Jets will fire Adam Gase after Week 17
Even before the 2020 NFL season began, Gase was on the hot seat. While the New York Jets opted to keep him around following an ugly campaign in 2019, the organization wasn’t sold on him making this team competitive.
Sure enough, the team’s lack of confidence in his coaching abilities proved to be accurate. The Jets lost 13 consecutive games to open the season, playing like one of the worst NFL teams in recent memory. Then, just a few weeks shy of locking up the right to Trevor Lawrence, it all blew up with a stunning victory in Week 15.
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New York delivered another upset in Week 16, knocking off the Cleveland Browns. Moving to 2-13, the victory guaranteed the Jacksonville Jaguars would have the No. 1 pick. With the Jets locked into the No 2 pick, Gase’s office might already be packed.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Gase will be fired following Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots. Even if the Jets win, which would mean finishing the season on a three-game winning streak, Gase’s time in New York is done.
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New York was prepared to fire Gase before Week 17, but the team pulled off its surprising victory. As a result, ownership and general manager Joe Douglas decided to let him finish the regular season.
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The Jets aren’t even waiting for him to leave before they look for a new head coach. According to Rapoport, the team is already considering multiple coaching candidates to take over the position. Among them, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh.
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While the Jets won’t be able to offer coaching candidates the opportunity to work with Trevor Lawrence, this is still an appealing job. There are a lot of intriguing coaching candidates available this offseason and the opportunity to take over this franchise will generate plenty of interest.
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Harbaugh is considered to have a strong chance of landing the job. Team owner Woody Johnson has been a huge fan of his for years and loves the idea of Harbaugh coaching the Jets. However, Douglas is expected to have significant input on the decision.
Robinson has ties to several coaches around the league, including Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale. The Jets will also consider Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, Florida Gators coach Dan Mullen and Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
With the Jacksonville Jaguars expected to fire Doug Marrone, the Jets will be further behind in the pecking order. Entering the offseason, it’s believed that the Jaguars and Houston Texans jobs are viewed as more appealing to coaching candidates. Like the Texans and Jaguars, the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons will be hiring a new head coach and general manager.