Nothing happens in a bubble in the football world, and the news of Robert Saleh’s firing from the New York Jets could have ripple effects that extend into the college football world. Just this past year, Jim Harbaugh jumped back to the NFL, a year after Antonio Pierce did the same.
Could a college football coach take over for Saleh in New York? It’s possible. Here are five college coaches who the Jets might contact.
College Football Coaches Who Could Coach the New York Jets
If rumors are true and Aaron Rodgers had a hand in Saleh’s firing, it’s not a great look for the Jets. Accordingly, once the dust settles and the 40-year-old inevitably retires after this season, owner Woody Johnson could realize he needs more structure at the head coaching position.
That’s where college coaches come in. In the NIL and transfer portal era of college football, coaches have to navigate big personalities and manage a roster more than ever before. That’s handy for a situation like the Jets’, where there is more structure and a strong central coach. Scheme is less important than coaching personality.
Accordingly, while the Jets could be tempted to take Deion Sanders and Shedeur Sanders as a package deal, that’s not the direction they should go. Rather, New York needs a calming presence who can quickly and quietly organize one of the more talented rosters in the league.
The Jets will likely be picking high in the draft, and there’s a glaring need at quarterback. I’m not ruling out a potential package deal. Here are five college guys who could take over in New York.
Matt Campbell, Iowa State Head Coach
The time will never be better for Matt Campbell to leave on top than now. He was a hot coaching candidate on both NFL and college boards about five years ago but opted to stay in Ames and, as a result, had to rebuild his roster a second time.
If you’re unfamiliar with Iowa State’s history, allow me to sum it up.
The Cyclones had 15 winning seasons (only two with a winning percentage better than .600) between 1945 and 2015. Campbell showed up in 2016 and has put together seven winning seasons in nine years.
But winning at Iowa State is hard, even for Campbell. He’s known for getting the most out of his roster, despite finishing in the bottom half of the Big 12’s recruiting ranks every year he’s been there. He has to work twice as hard as other coaches just to put together a competent team.
With the Jets, Campbell would simply need to coach — something that could be a welcomed change. On the Jets’ side, it’d be a home run.
Greg Schiano, Rutgers Head Coach
The guy in the midst of turning around New Jersey’s flagship university for a second time also happens to have NFL experience. While Greg Schiano was just 11-21 in his first stint in the NFL, he coached his entire second season with Mike Glennon as his primary starter.
Assuming New York can pick a quarterback in the draft, Schiano could be a viable option for a Jets team that needs a no-nonsense approach and a guy who can do more with less.
Schiano’s offenses aren’t always exciting, but they can run the ball and play defense, something Saleh was supposed to bring to New York but ultimately struggled to do.
Ryan Day, Ohio State Head Coach
Ryan Day is a great football coach who has coached Ohio State during one of Michigan’s most dominant runs in recent memory. All he’s done is win consistently, but Day has also dropped a few games to Michigan that have hurt his overall legacy.
Day has a proven track record of pulling and retaining high-profile assistants and is one of the few who can be a true CEO type, given the talent of the coaches he’s over.
I think Day eventually ends up in the NFL, I just don’t know if it’s this season.
Jedd Fisch, Washington Head Coach
Jedd Fisch is in his first season at Washington, but the early results are much better than what many expected. He has NFL experience in the Sean McVay tree, which is one of the trendiest things in NFL coaching hires right now.
Fisch has both the schematic capabilities and the ability to get more out of less. He’s also dealt with plenty of transfers and big personalities and could hand-pick his quarterback with the Jets.
I think Fisch is both a realistic and excellent candidate for New York.
Kirby Smart, Georgia Head Coach
Look, this one’s a long shot, but let’s say Kirby Smart either gets fed up with the college game or gets run out of town because his players refused to stop speeding on Georgia’s backroads.
Neither of those has anything to do with Smart’s incredible ability to coach football, something the Jets could really use.
Carson Beck is a projected first-round pick, and while part of Smart’s success has been recruiting success, his ability to manage personalities and convince talented players to be patient as they wait to crack the top of the depth chart is impressive.
Before Smart was a standout recruiter and head coach, he was a standout defensive mind. That hasn’t changed, and neither has his players’ desire to play for him.