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The New York Jets are looking for a new head coach because they fired Robert Saleh in the middle of the season. It was a rough year for the Jets, with fans feeling let down after having high hopes. For the first time in a while, there was genuine excitement among Jets supporters.
The reason for this hope was Aaron Rodgers. A four-time MVP, Rodgers was expected to lead the team to success. With over 60,000 passing yards and 500 touchdowns, he seemed like the perfect quarterback to bring the Jets back to glory.
Yet, things didn’t go as planned. Rodgers, who was 40 years old at the start of the season and recovering from a serious injury, didn’t perform well. He got caught up in off-field distractions, including talks of a political campaign and some odd conspiracy theories.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Jets ended up with a disappointing 5-12 record. Rodgers struggled throughout the season, and now there’s uncertainty about his future in football, especially with the Jets.
And as if things couldn’t get worse, Rodgers left fans with one last letdown. The Jets missed out on interviewing Ben Johnson, a top coaching candidate from the Detroit Lions. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Johnson isn’t interested in the Jets job due to their unstable quarterback situation.
Johnson is selective about where he’ll interview, preferring stable teams. The Jets’ troubles with quarterbacks have made them less appealing to him.
Ben Johnson has made it very clear he’s not taking interviews with every organization looking for a HC. If the Jets had a better quarterback situation, there would be more interest. https://t.co/1jgZ9eYBuZ
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 6, 2025
This is tough for Jets fans and the organization alike. The decline of Rodgers was unexpected, as he played only four snaps before getting hurt again. If he had been healthier, maybe things would’ve turned out differently.
But let’s face it: Ben Johnson’s decision to avoid the Jets makes sense. It’s a chaotic environment right now. Woody Johnson, the owner, even fired his coach midseason after trying to bench Rodgers.
Johnson is one of the brightest offensive minds in football and could have a successful head coaching career. However, he needs the right team and support system to thrive. A bad fit with an owner or GM can ruin a coaching career before it even starts.
Jets fans dream of having Johnson’s offense with a fresh quarterback like Sam Darnold or Shedeur Sanders. But sadly, it looks like they’ll have to settle for less exciting options based on current reports.
