5 head coaching candidates for Jets after firing Adam Gase

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 29: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Mekhi Becton #77 of the New York Jets in action against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on November 29, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Dolphins defeated the Jets 20-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 19: Head coach Matt Campbell of the Iowa State Cyclones reacts to the officials after a call while taking on the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2020 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship football game at AT&T Stadium on December 19, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

4. Jets head coaching candidates: Iowa State HC Matt Campbell

There has been an influx of college head coaches taking NFL jobs in recent years, including Arizona’s Kliff Kingsbury and Carolina’s Matt Rhule. The Jets actually showed interest in both during their last hiring cycle, coming close to landing Rhule before the deal fell apart after New York’s front office insisted on having control over Rhule’s coaching staff.

Rhule passed on that job and landed in Carolina this season, where he has done a tremendous job establishing a good culture for the rebuilding Panthers. The Jets may look to the college ranks again with a more open mind by looking at Campbell, who has built a solid program at Iowa State over the past five years.

The Cyclones were going nowhere before Campbell took over and he has quickly turned Iowa State into a regular Big 12 contender. That included a run to the Big 12 Championship Game this season, where Iowa State lost 27-21 but earned a bid to the Fiesta Bowl, marking the first time in program history that the Cyclones appeared in a New Year’s Six bowl.

If the Jets are looking for a coach who can be a true program builder in the model of Rhule the best fit on the board right now is Campbell. Expect Douglas to reach out to Campbell, who declined an opportunity to interview with New York in their last hiring cycle, to see if the organization’s circumstances are more appealing this go-round.

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