Vincent Frank
The New York Jets took less than two weeks to replace Rex Ryan. According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, the team has hired Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles to be its new head coach.
This seemed to be already in the works earlier on Tuesday when the Jets brass cancelled an interview with Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott. It also comes just hours after the team named Mike Maccagnan to replace John Idzik as its general manager.
Seen as one of the top defensive minds in the NFL, Bowles was drawing interest from both the San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons as well as the Jets. His blitz-heavy scheme had the Cardinals defense ranked among the best in the NFL during what was a surprising 11-win season in 2014.
The pedigree is definitely here. Bowles played seven seasons in the NFL as a safety. And after retiring, he joined the Green Bay Packers as a member of their player personnel staff in 1995. Following stints in college at Morehouse College and Grambling State, Bowles returned to the NFL as the Jets defensive backs coach in 2000.
However, it wasn’t until 2012 with the Philadelphia Eagles that Bowles received his first coordinating job. After turning around what was a disastrous Eagles defense, Bowles joined Bruce Arians with the Cardinals in 2012.
While some might indicate that the Jets needed an offensive-minded coach, it’s hard to argue against what Bowles brings to the table. He’s an innovator on the defensive side of the ball and should energize a franchise that has fallen on hard times recently.
Photo: AZCardinals.com
