The long, frightening, horrific history of Jets coaches (original) (raw)
The Jets have hired 16 head coaches and had two others finish seasons as interim leaders. Of those, just Bill Parcells and Al Groh departed with winning records. And just one, Weeb Ewbank, walked off the field a Super Bowl or even AFL or AFC champion.
They have hired former champs (Ewbank and Parcells) and a future champ (Pete Carroll), but for most of their history the Jets have had the wrong guy at the wrong time on their sideline.
Here’s a look:
Sammy Baugh
Seasons: 1960-61
Résumé: “Slinging Sammy” was a Hall-of-Fame quarterback for the Redskins from 1937-52. Won NFL titles in 1937 and ’42. Head coach at Hardin-Simmons from 1955-58.
Titans record: 14-14
How it went: Then the Titans, Baugh was the first coach in franchise history and went 7-7 each season.
How it ended: In a perfectly fitting start to the team’s coaching history, Baugh was replaced after the 1961 season by owner Harry Wismer, with whom he’d had a chilly relationship. Baugh had a contract for 1962 and would be have to be paid unless he quit. According to Gerald Eskenazi’s book “Gang Green,” Wismer did not fire Baugh but declined to tell him the location of the 1962 training camp. Baugh found out where it was, went and spent a few days acting as a kicking coach before Wismer agreed to pay his contract in installments. Baugh later claimed he wasn’t paid.
Clyde Turner
Season: 1962
**Résumé:**“Bulldog” was a Hall-of-Fame center-linebacker for the Bears from 1940-52. Won four NFL titles as a player. Served as assistant coach under George Halas for four seasons.
Titans record: 5-9
How it went: With no previous head coaching experience, had tumultuous season trying to keep team together amid Wismer’s financial woes, which led to the AFL taking over operations late in the season.
How it ended: Was fired when Wismer sold the franchise in 1963 to a five-man syndicate that included Sonny Werblin and Leon Hess.
Weeb EwbankAP
Weeb Ewbank
Seasons: 1963-73
**Résumé:**Three-sport athlete at Miami of Ohio never played in the NFL. Coached in high school and college before becoming an assistant to Paul Brown in Cleveland from 1949-53. Was head coach of Baltimore Colts from 1954-62 and won NFL titles in 1958 (overtime win over the Giants in “The Greatest Game Ever Played”) and ’59. Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1978.
Jets record: 71-77-6 (2-1 postseason)
How it went: New ownership changed name of team to Jets and snapped up the respected Ewbank. He would preside over many of the good moments in franchise history, including the drafting and signing of Joe Namath in 1965, their first winning season in 1967 and the Super Bowl III championship as 18-point underdogs against the Colts.
How it end: Retired at end of 1973 season at 70 years old to “spend more time with his wife” but stayed on as GM and added president title. Hired son-in-law Charley Winner to replace him as coach.
Charley Winner
Seasons: 1974-75
Résumé: Was assistant to Ewbank for two Colts titles and stayed on under Don Shula. Was head coach of St. Louis Cardinals from 1966-70 and had three winning seasons before serving as an assistant with the Redskins and Jets.
Jets record: 9-14
How it went: Started 1-7 but won last six games in 1974, including NFL’s first regular-season overtime game on Namath’s bootleg touchdown against the Giants at Yale Bowl.
How it ended: Was fired by Al Ward, Ewbank’s successor at GM, after a 2-7 start in 1975. Interim coach Ken Shipp went 1-4.
Lou HoltzWireImage
Lou Holtz
Season: 1976
Résumé: College head coach at William & Mary (1969-71) and North Carolina State (1972-75), where he went 33-12-3 and won an ACC title.
Jets record: 3-10
How it went: It was a disaster. The college man with no NFL experience had the players line up in height order for the national anthem and wrote fight songs for the team to sing after victories. Not many were needed as the team had what is still its worst point differential (minus-214) for a single season.
How it ended: Holtz resigned with one game to go to take the head coaching job at Arkansas, stating, “God did not put Lou Holtz on this earth to coach in the pros.” Interim coach Mike Holovak went 0-1.
Walt Michaels
Seasons: 1977-82
Résumé: Five-time Pro Bowl linebacker for the Browns who also played briefly for the Packers and Jets. Served as assistant coach for Raiders (1962), Jets (1963-73, including Super Bowl III) and Eagles (1973-75).
Jets record: 39-47-1 (2-2 postseason)
How it went: Was 3-11 in first season but with the help of the New York Sack Exchange in 1981 went 10-4 and led the Jets to their first playoff berth in 12 seasons. In the strike shortened 1982 season, the Jets went 6-3 and won road playoff games against the Bengals and Raiders before losing the infamous Mud Bowl in Miami.
How it ended: Retired two weeks later at age 53, saying he’d never “taken a vacation or spent enough time with my family” in 32 years in football. Indications were Michaels was pressured into his decision, as owner Hess had tired of the coach’s temper tantrums, including one on the flight home from Miami.
Joe WaltonAP
Joe Walton
Seasons: 1983-89
Résumé: Played end and defensive end for the Redskins and Giants from 1957-64, then served as an assistant coach for both before becoming Michaels’ offensive coordinator in 1981.
Jets record: 53-57-1 (1-2 postseason)
How it went: In third season, led Jets to 11-5 mark in 1985 but they lost the wild-card game at home to the Patriots. Started out 10-1 in 1986, lost last five games before winning home wild-card game vs. Chiefs. Jets were about to make it to AFC title game but Mark Gastineau roughed Bernie Kosar and the Jets lost to the Browns.
How it ended: Fired after going 4-12 in 1989, including a 37-0 finale loss to the Bills that had a similar atmosphere to Monday night’s Jets debacle, as fans chanted “Joe Must Go!”
Bruce Coslet
Seasons: 1990-93
Résumé: Played tight end for Bengals from 1969-76, spent one season as an assistant coach for the 49ers and nine with the Bengals, including two Super Bowl appearances.
Jets record: 26-38
How it went: Hired by new GM Dick Steinberg after Jets lost out on Mike Holmgren. Didn’t have a winning season in four years. Best was 8-8 and a playoff berth in 1991. Worst moment came when Dennis Byrd was paralyzed during a 1992 game.
How it ended: Fired after Jets lost four of their last five to finish 8-8 in 1993. Still had a chance to make playoffs on final day but lost dismally, 24-0 at the Oilers in the infamous game in which Buddy Ryan punched Kevin Gilbride.
Pete Carroll
Season: 1994
Résumé: Assistant coach in college from 1973-83 and NFL with Bills (1984) and Vikings (1985-89), and was the Jets defensive coordinator during the Coslet regime.
Jets record: 6-10
How it went: Jets were 6-5 and had a 24-6 lead over the Dolphins before giving up three touchdown passes from Dan Marino to Mark Ingram, the last on the colossal “fake spike” touchdown with 22 seconds to go, to lose 28-24.
How it ended: Finished with five-game skid and was fired because Hess had to have Rich Kotite, who had been dismissed in Philadelphia in favor of Buddy Ryan.
Rich KotiteBob Olen
Rich Kotite
Seasons: 1995-96
Résumé: Tight end for Giants and Steelers (1967-72), spent seven seasons with Jets as assistant, including five as offensive coordinator. Went 36-28 in four seasons as Eagles head coach.
Jets record: 4-28
How it went: Started dual role as coach/GM by drafting Kyle Brady over Warren Sapp and it went downhill from there.
How it ended: Fired after going 1-15 mark in 1996, one of the worst seasons in NFL history.
Bill Parcells
Seasons: 1997-99
Résumé: Coached Giants from 1983-90, leading them to two Super Bowl titles. Directed Patriots from 1993-96, losing to the Packers in the Super Bowl.
Jets record: 29-19 (1-1 postseason)
How it went: Jets initially hired Bill Belichick to be the coach in 1997, then signed Parcells as a “consultant.” After a mediation by the commissioner that cost the Jets four draft picks, Parcells took the reins and started with a 41-3 win at Seattle. Went 9-7 in 1997 but missed playoffs thanks to Leon Johnson’s interception on an ill-advised halfback option pass in Detroit. Signed Curtis Martin as a free agent from the Patriots and led Jets to 12-4 mark (their most wins in a season) in 1998, beat the Jaguars in the divisional round, and had a 10-0 lead over the Broncos in the AFC title game before falling apart and losing 23-10.
How it ended: Vinny Testaverde tore his Achilles in Week 1 in 1999 and the Jets limped to a 1-6 start before finishing 8-8. Parcells resigned as coach and the team elevated Belichick, but Belichick “resigned as HC of the NYJ” and went to the Patriots rather than stay with Parcells above him in the front office.
Al Groh
Season: 2000
Résumé: Longtime NFL assistant had been to Super Bowls with Parcells on the Giants and Patriots, and was Jets linebackers coach for three seasons. Also was head coach at Wake Forest for six seasons in the ’80s.
Jets record: 9-7
How it went: Selected by Parcells to replace Belichick, whom Groh beat twice to get off to a 6-1 start. The sixth win was the “Monday Night Miracle,” 40-37 overtime win over the Dolphins in which the Jets had trailed 30-7.
How it ended: The Jets stumbled to 9-6 and missed the playoffs on the last day, blowing a 14-0 lead at the Ravens. Groh resigned to take his “dream job” at his alma mater, Virginia.
Herm EdwardsReuters
Herman Edwards
Seasons: 2001-05
Résumé: Cornerback for Eagles, Falcons and Rams best known for his “Miracle at the Meadowlands” fumble return against the Giants in 1978. Was an assistant coach at San Jose State and for the Chiefs (1992-95) and Buccaneers (1996-2000).
Jets record: 39-41 (2-3 postseason)
How it went: Named Jets first African-American coach by new GM Terry Bradway. Took Jets to playoffs in three of his first four seasons, crushing the Colts 41-0 in the 2002 wild-card game and topping the Chargers 20-17 in the 2004 wild-card game.
How it ended: Jets suffered through a 4-12 season in 2005 that included a seven-game losing streak to seal Edwards’ fate.
Eric Mangini
Seasons: 2006-08
Résumé: Started coaching career with Belichick in Cleveland, served three seasons on Parcells’ Jets staff and was the Patriots’ defensive coordinator in 2005.
Jets record: 23-25 (0-1 postseason)
How it went: The “Mangenius,” as he was dubbed by Tony Soprano, led the Jets to a 10-6 mark and a wild-card berth in his first season, but they got blown out by the Patriots, 37-16. Survived a 2007 season in which the Jets went 4-12 and the Patriots went 16-0 after it was revealed Mangini ratted the Patriots out in Spygate. Had Jets at 8-3 with Brett Favre at quarterback in 2008, but team collapsed to 9-7 and missed playoffs.
How it ended: Mangini recently told The Post’s Brian Costello that he had objected to the Favre signing and was fired despite assurances from owner Woody Johnson that he would be safe if things went badly.
Rex Ryan
Seasons: 2009-14
Résumé: Longtime college and pro assistant who’d been with the Cardinals (1994-95) and Ravens (1999-2008), including their Super Bowl season).
Rex RyanAP
Jets record: 46-50 (4-2 postseason)
How it went: The most entertaining period in Jets history featured trips to the AFC title game in Ryan’s first two years and four road playoff wins, including triumphs over Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Ryan’s tenure also included his foot-fetish outing, an inability to coherently use Tim Tebow and Michael Vick, and appearances in The Post in clown-car illustrations.
How it ended: After a tumultuous final season, both Ryan and second-year GM John Idzik were shown the door by Johnson.
Todd Bowles
Seasons: 2015-present
Résumé: Played safety for Redskins and 49ers from 1986-93 and started for Redskins in Super Bowl XXII. First NFL coaching job was with Jets in 2000, and he went on to Browns, Cowboys, Dolphins, Eagles and Cardinals, where he was defensive coordinator.
Jets record: 13-15
How it’s gone: Hired along with GM Mike Maccagnan but reports directly to the owner. Went 10-6 in first season but Jets missed playoffs as Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three interceptions in a 22-17 final-game loss at Ryan’s Bills.
How it may end: The Jets’ 3-9 mark, punctuated by the team’s no-show, 41-10 loss to the Colts on Monday night, could spell doom for Bowles’ short tenure.