The Jets completed rounds 13, 14 and 15 of interviews for their new head coach on Friday.
Two of the interviews were with coordinators, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
Third was Josh McCown, a candidate who would be a more unconventional choice.
Jets fans will remember McCown's two years at quarterback, first as a starter and then as a mentor to rookie Sam Darnold.
McCown is currently the Vikings' quarterbacks coach and reunited with Darnold this season as Minnesota went 14-3 and made the playoffs.
McCown, who has only been an NFL assistant for two years, is the only Jets coaching candidate without experience as a head coach or coordinator.
The 45-year-old will make the unusual leap from position coach to top job without finishing his role as coordinator.
But those who know McCown say his leadership abilities will mask his lack of play-calling experience.
Wide receiver Brandon Marshall played with McCown for the Bears in 2012 and 2013.
Coach Marshall watched McCown replace the injured Jay Cutler in 2013, throwing 13 touchdowns and one interception to keep the Bears' season alive.
“At the time, I knew Josh was a guy who would follow me everywhere. Josh is a leader. He's a galvanizer,” Marshall said Friday. “He just happened to know how to throw a football. He just happened to have a high football IQ. What made Josh special was all of the guys. [bleeping] The building loves him. everyone. ”
A move from position coach to head coach is unusual, but not unheard of.
A great example of it working is Andy Reid, who went from being the Packers' quarterbacks coach to becoming the Eagles' head coach in 1999.
Reid won 273 regular season games, fourth in NFL history, and won three Super Bowls with the Chiefs.
Reid's accomplishments may be a difficult hurdle for McCown to clear, but coaches who have never called plays before, like McCown's boss at Minnesota, Kevin O'Connell, and Miami's Mike McDaniel, are hired. There are other examples.
Although the two held the title of offensive coordinator, Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan were their respective bosses and not the primary play-callers.
Marshall said McVay's 18 years in the NFL as a quarterback more than makes up for his lack of coaching experience.
“Who is more qualified to run the offense, the coach or the player who actually played the position?” Marshall said.
McCown spent many years as a backup quarterback and mentored many young quarterbacks in the latter half of his career, preparing them for future coaching roles.
McCown has already interviewed twice with the Texans for the head coaching position in 2021 and 2022.
The first time came when he was still a player.
In 2018, the Jets considered firing Todd Bowles during the season, but could not decide whether someone on the coaching staff would be available as interim coach.
McCown has been discussed as a player-coach option, showing how highly regarded he was.
Mike McCartney, McCown's longtime agent while he was a player, said McCown can relate to players because he has experienced almost everything in the NFL.
“Josh McCown is the epitome of a male leader,” McCartney said Friday. “He genuinely cares about people and has an unparalleled ability to connect with everyone in the locker room. His career reflects a unique trajectory, from being drafted to being paid to , released, traded, injured, moved to another league. Having played on the team and even been on the practice squad, Josh has a real empathy for every player on the roster because he has lived their experiences. , he becomes a natural teacher, motivator, and unifier.”
There seems to be no doubt around the league that McCown will eventually become a head coach.
There are also examples of teams making early recruiting decisions and later losing opportunities, such as the Rams' McVay and the Bengals' Zac Taylor.
McCartney said he was confident that if the Jets hired McCown, he would be able to assemble a strong staff to help them win.
“What sets Josh apart is his self-awareness and humility. He knows how to assemble a coaching staff that compensates for his lack of coaching experience and strengthens his weaker areas,” McCartney said. he said. “His ability to surround himself with the right people, combined with his leadership and character, make him an ideal head coaching candidate for the Jets and other NFL teams.”
The Titans are in the process of hiring Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi, according to multiple reports.
Borgonzi met with the Jets and was considered a top candidate.
The Jets are expected to begin a second round of interviews with GM candidates in the coming days.
