The New York Jets are facing a coaching crisis that has nothing to do with their performance on the field and everything to do with their reputation off it. According to the latest episode of The Coach JB Show, the Jets have been “ghosted” by at least two high-profile Defensive Coordinator (DC) candidates, and the reason is as simple as it is damning: no one wants to hitch their wagon to a staff that might be gone by mid-season.
Coach JB didn’t mince words when describing the situation. “These motherfuckers do not want to coach for New York,” he stated bluntly. “Really good coaches don’t care about the money; they just do not want to go over to the Jets.”
The primary issue, according to JB, is the “lame duck” status of the current coaching staff. Candidates are reportedly aware that the front office has “cut bait” on the long-term vision, and there is a widespread belief that the current leadership—including Aaron Glenn—won’t survive halfway through the next season. Taking a DC job under these conditions is seen as a career dead-end for established coaches.
JB also highlighted a fundamental difference between hiring an Offensive Coordinator (OC) and a DC under a defensive-minded head coach. While an OC can often work independently due to the unique nature of the quarterback position, a DC under a defensive head coach often lacks real authority. “DCs do not want to be a ‘title’ DC and not call the plays,” JB explained. “It doesn’t help them at all, and they know they’re short-lived on that staff.”
The show also touched on the broader coaching carousel, noting how Mike McDaniel—now with the Chargers—turned down interviews with teams like Tampa Bay and Cleveland because of organizational uncertainty. “McDaniel said, ‘I’m not even interviewing for your head coaching job… I don’t even know who your head coach is,'” JB recounted, mimicking McDaniel’s idiosyncratic speaking style.
The episode even featured a viral parody by Joey Malinaro, capturing the “weird” energy of an imagined interview between Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel. While humorous, the clip underscored a serious point made by Big Smitty: the importance of a head coach having full control over his staff to ensure a unified vision.
For the Jets, the path forward looks bleak. Coach JB predicts they will likely end up with one of two types of candidates: a “super old guy” who just wants to be back in the business and doesn’t care about being fired, or a “super young guy” looking for any way to get his foot in the door. Neither option bodes well for a franchise desperate for stability and elite leadership. As Coach JB summed it up: “Houston, we have a problem.”
