Odds suggest Jets’ coaching search is coming down to two candidates

The oddsmakers may be onto something, regarding the New York Jets’ head-coaching vacancy.

Things are heating up when it comes to who will be the next head coach of the New York Jets.

Gang Green is one of now seven head-coaching vacancies in the NFL. Though the Jets may have the worst roster of these magnificent seven jobs, New York is blessed with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, as well as having a well-thought-of, up-and-coming general manager in Joe Douglas. Here is what the bookmakers believe when it comes to who will be the Jets’ next coach.

Odds for who will be the Jets’ next head coach

• Former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson: +300
• San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh: +300
• Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll: +600
• Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy: +800
• Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady: +1100

According to BetMGM, the two co-leaders for the Jets job are former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh at +300. Pederson was relieved of his coaching duties on Monday, but his previous working relationship with Douglas in the City of Brotherly Love makes him an ideal candidate for the Jets gig.

Saleh has been tied to several teams, most notably his home state’s Detroit Lions. While there is a decent chance he could remain on Kyle Shanahan’s staff in Santa Clara, Saleh was seen as one of the best potential first-time head-coaching candidates who did not get a job last offseason cycle. He may end up in the Motor City, but him going to the Jets has gained serious traction in the last week.

As for other candidates the Jets are considering, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll comes in at +600, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy at +800 and Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady at +1100. Daboll and Bieniemy are still coaching in the NFL playoffs, so the Jets would have to wait to hire either of them. Brady is ready to be hired now.

Of those three, Daboll feels like he will certainly get a head-coaching gig, as he may end up replacing Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers. Given that he has done marvelous things in the Jets’ same division up in Buffalo, it makes sense why The Johnsons would be very interested in hiring him. As for Bieniemy and Brady, they feel like dark-horse candidates to land with the Jets.

Bieniemy was seen as the best potential first-time head-coaching candidate who did not get a job last offseason. While he has a reputation of not interviewing well, he does coordinate the same offense that Patrick Mahomes stars in. Though there’s a chance head coach Andy Reid and quarterbacks coach Mike Kafka may prop him up a bit, Bieniemy is ready to have his opportunity.

As for Brady, it is truly remarkable how quickly the 30-something has ascended the coaching ranks. He has gone from the Penn State Nittany Lions to the New Orleans Saints to the LSU Tigers to the Panthers in the last five years. Brady may stay with Matt Rhule in Charlotte, but he is gaining traction to be a finalist for the Atlanta Falcons head-coaching job to be their Sean McVay.

Will Pederson, Saleh or someone else end up being the next head coach of the Jets?