Favorite Emerges for New York Jets Coaching Job, Arthur Smith Remains a Candidate
It appears that Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is not the favorite to land the New York Jets head coaching job, but he might still be in the mix, anyway.
According to a report by Jonathan Jones of CBS on Sunday, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is the favorite to be the next Jets head coach. Glenn, 52, played for the Jets from 1994-2001, and worked for the team as a scout from 2012-13, which should seem like a natural homecoming.
But there’s a potential hiccup. Glenn is also considered a favorite for the New Orleans Saints head coach vacancy, and Glenn also played for the Saints, in 2008, and coached there from 2016-20.
So if Glenn picks New Orleans, Smith and the rest of the other candidates for the Jets job could still be in the mix.
“He’s been at the top of the list for both the Jets and the Saints,” Jones reported on Sunday.
Now that the Lions have been eliminated with their loss to the Washington Commanders on Saturday night, things can start to move forward with most of the hiring processes around the league. Glenn and Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson are both expected to land head coaching jobs this offseason. They can begin to interview with teams in person starting on Monday.
Smith is one of a dozen completed interviews for the Jets head coach job. He also interviewed with the Chicago Bears.
The Jets are also in the concurrent process of hiring a new general manager, which could impact their coaching search.
NFL COACHING CAROUSEL
The New England Patriots made the first hire of the 2025 cycle last Sunday, signing former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker and Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel to replace Jerod Mayo.
The Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars may be waiting to interview championship game offensive coordinators Joe Brady (Buffalo Bills) and Kliff Kingsbury (Washington Commanders). The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to interview Kanas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
| TEAM | FORMER COACH | NEW COACH |
| Chicago Bears | Matt Eberflus | |
| Dallas Cowboys | Mike McCarthy | |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Doug Pederson | |
| Las Vegas Raiders | Antonio Pierce | |
| New England Patriots | Jerod Mayo | Mike Vrabel |
| New Orleans Saints | Dennis Allen | |
| New York Jets | Robert Saleh |