Iowa State’s Matt Campbell interviewing with New York Jets
By John Buhler
Matt Campbell could leave the Iowa State football program for the New York Jets.
Matt Campbell has done remarkable things building up his Iowa State football program, but is the Cyclones head coach poised to leave for an NFL team like the flightless New York Jets?
Campbell is reportedly interviewing for the Jets’ head-coaching vacancy. The Jets had Campbell as their top choice two offseason cycles ago, but Campbell opted to stay and keep building his program at Iowa State. The Cyclones are coming off a 9-3 season, one where Iowa State won the Big 12 in the regular season, played in a conference championship and won the Fiesta Bowl.
Would Matt Campbell leave Iowa State for a team like the Jets?
If Gang Green is able to pry Campbell out of the Big 12, it would be a home-run hire for the Jets. Campbell is 70-43 in nine years as a Division I head coach, split between the MAC’s Toledo Rockets (2011-15) and Iowa State (2016-present). Outside of his first season at Iowa State in 2016, every team Campbell has led has had a winning record, going to eight bowl games.
Prior to arriving in Ames, Iowa State was viewed as a bottom-tier Big 12 job, alongside the pitiful Kansas Jayhawks. While other coaches have had success there previously, Campbell was the architect of the greatest season in program history. If he returns, the Cyclones are projected to face the Oklahoma Sooners in the Big 12 Championship Game again. Does he want to leave?
It will come down to the money, as well as his ability to put together a coaching staff. Though Campbell dominates in the college game and is in his early 40s, he has never held a job in the NFL before. This could be an issue during the interview process. At the very least, it will be a great experience for him if he were to ever think about leaving for the NFL at any point down the line.
Campbell has a great thing going at Iowa State, so he may not want to part ways from Ames yet.
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