Jets Hire Quarterbacks Coach Amid Uncertainty
The Jets have brought on a quarterbacks coach, but it’s still a bit murky who he’ll actually be coaching.
Bill Musgrave, an experienced assistant who has been an NFL offensive coordinator six times since 1998, was hired on Tuesday to work under head coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Frank Reich. Prior to this, Musgrave was the Browns’ quarterbacks coach last season.
In addition, the Jets have announced the hiring of assistant QB coach Thomas Merkle, assistant offensive line coach Al Netter, and offensive assistant Matthew Sargent. There were also confirmations of the previously reported appointments of tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts and passing game coordinator Seth Ryan, who is Rex Ryan’s son.
Musgrave, who played as an NFL quarterback backing up stars like Steve Young and John Elway in the ’90s, transitioned to coaching with the Eagles shortly after wrapping up his playing career in 1998. By the end of that season, he was promoted to offensive coordinator, a role he’s held for about 25 years with various teams including the Panthers, Jaguars, Vikings, Raiders, and Broncos.
Most recently, Coach Kevin Stefanski added Musgrave to his staff as a senior offensive assistant in 2023 and then promoted him to quarterbacks coach this past season. He had the challenging task of managing a depth chart that featured Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders.
Now, Musgrave steps into what could be a challenging situation with the Jets.
Justin Fields is still under contract but had a rough season before being benched due to a knee injury that ended his year prematurely. Owner Woody Johnson held Fields accountable for many of the offensive issues.
There’s a possibility Fields could become a salary cap casualty, especially if the Jets decide they can swallow a $22 million hit to their cap.
Meanwhile, Tyrod Taylor spent two years as a backup with the Jets before hitting free agency.
Brady Cook, an undrafted rookie, struggled greatly, ending with zero wins, two touchdowns, and seven interceptions, which clearly showed he wasn’t ready for the challenge.
The Jets recently parted ways with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand and brought in Reich, who tends to favor pass-first quarterbacks. Interestingly, Musgrave has never worked with either Reich or Glenn, despite their paths being somewhat similar over the years.
In 2018, former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr remarked about Musgrave, saying, “He’s one of the smartest guys I’ve ever been around when it comes to analytical numbers and percentages.”
Journeyman Keith Keenum echoed Carr’s sentiments, commenting on Musgrave’s smart approach to the game.
Keenum stated, “Bill is the smartest guy. He’s great, and I really appreciate his knowledge of the game and how he explained it to us, installed it, and taught us about it.” He emphasized the value of having a coordinator who has played the position and understands the quarterback’s perspective.
Keenum recently became a free agent after spending last season with the Bears, while Kerr is retired, though there are speculations he may try to return in 2026.
