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Top 5 head coaching candidates for New York Jets

By Brad Berreman

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Todd Bowles of the New York Jets reacts after a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Todd Bowles of the New York Jets reacts after a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

2. Jim Caldwell

Caldwell spent this season out of coaching after being fired by the Detroit Lions. But he has already interviewed with the Green Bay Packers, as they begin a search for McCarthy’s replacement, with further indications he’ll be a candidate for other head coaching jobs.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has suggested Caldwell as a candidate for the Jets, and he has been mentioned as a candidate for the Cardinals’ head coaching job by Albert Breer of SI.com. If nothing else, Caldwell may be back in the league next year as an offensive coordinator.

Caldwell has a decent resume as a head coach, with a 62-50 regular season record over seven combined season with the Lions and Indianapolis Colts. In the greater context of Lions’ history, three winning seasons in four campaigns is practically worthy of a bust in Canton.

Related directly to the Jets and their young quarterback, Caldwell has worked with Peyton Manning, Matthew Stafford and Joe Flacco over his last several years in coaching. In the latter case, upon taking over as Ravens’ offensive coordinator late in the 2012 season, Caldwell helped make Flacco into a Super Bowl MVP. Flacco surely owes a chunk of the big contract he signed after that to Caldwell.

The Jets may find themselves competing for Caldwell. But he may find the idea of working with Darnold appealing, as many candidates should and will.

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