If it wasn't clear before, it is now. The Jets are leaving no stone unturned in their search for a head coach.
University of Maryland head coach Mike Locksley interviewed for the vacant position Friday, the team announced.
He has a 35-67 record as a head coach at the collegiate level, including 32-36 over the past seven seasons at the University of Maryland.
Locksley, 55, previously interviewed for the Dolphins' vacancy in 2022 before Mike McDaniel was hired.
The Jets also interviewed with seven candidates on Friday, including Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, and asked to meet with at least nine more coaches.
None of the other 15 candidates are college graduates and are not as sudden as Locksley, but the team will interview eight people currently on the list, including interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich. The Jets are the only team expected.
Locksley ultimately caught the Jets' attention during his second stint as he developed a reputation as someone who built a strong program culture in the Big Ten.
According to reports, Locksley's first head coaching stint at the University of New Mexico was a three-year, two-win period (2009-2011) that included an altercation with an assistant coach and an age and gender discrimination lawsuit that was later dropped. The team ended up with a disastrous record of 26 losses. .
Locksley served as interim head coach for six games at the University of Maryland in 2015 before returning as the school's full-time head coach following a stint at the University of Alabama.
In fact, he followed Giants head coach Brian Daboll to become Alabama's offensive coordinator in 2018.
The 2018 Crimson Tide featured quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts, Mac Jones, running backs Josh Jacobs, Najee Harris, Brian Robinson Jr., Damian Harris, and receivers DeVonta Smith and Jerry Jeudy set single-season records for scoring and total offensive power. Jaylen Waddle and Henry Ruggs – nine of those became first-round draft picks.
This season, Locksley won the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach.
The 33rd team's think tank is helping identify and vet candidates, and Jets owner Woody Johnson is leading interviews with future head coaches and general managers.
All interviews with candidates under NFL contracts must be conducted virtually until at least January 20th.
Regardless of who manages the Jets in 2025, home games will be played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, the NFL announced Friday. Date, time, opponents, etc. will be announced at a later date.
Possible opponents include the Dolphins, Bills, Patriots, Browns, Steelers, Falcons, Panthers, Broncos and Cowboys.
The Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh after losing to London in Week 5 of the 2024 season. Mr. Johnson is a former U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom.
