The Jets Might Just Steal All the Vikings’ People
The New York Jets’ 2024 season ended sooner than others, eliminated from postseason contention weeks ago, enabling discussions with would-be candidates for their open general manager and head coach vacancies.
The Jets Might Just Steal All the Vikings’ People
And when the dust settles on New York’s search, the Jets might end up with a bunch of Vikings executives and coaches, according to Connor Hughes of New York Regional Sports Network.
To date, the Jets have plans to interview (or have already interviewed) Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores, quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, and senior vice president of player personnel Ryan Grigson.
Hughes wrote this week, “There’s a lot of buzz going around league circles right now regarding a Ryan Grigson (general manager), Brian Flores (head coach), and Josh McCown (offensive coordinator) pairing. A source in Minnesota actually said that’s been talked about within their building.”
In fact, all facets of the Jets’ search are dripping with Vikings or former team personnel. Ex-general manager Rick Spielman is serving as a consultant to New York’s search, which might explain some of the purple interweavings. Spielman worked for the Vikings from 2006 to 2021.
Hughes wrote about Spielman’s involvement: “These are league sources speculating on what they’ve heard regarding the Jets vacancy, not a Jets source telling me what they are going to do. Woody Johnson, Christopher Johnson, Hymie Elhai (team president), Mike Tannenbaum (33rd Team), and Rick Spielman (33rd Team) are the ones in and conducting these interviews.”
The main target, at least from the Vikings’ perspective, of the would-be pilfer is Flores. The defensive boss has totally fixed Minnesota’s once-ailing defense, and if he bolts for the Jets as their head coach, Minnesota would have to start from scratch, perhaps exploring the DC candidacies of Robert Saleh, Brandon Staley, or Jerod Mayo.
McCown, too, is an up-and-comer as a coach. After playing in the league for 19 seasons as a quarterback, he has transitioned to the coaching ranks rather adeptly, helping squeeze the best out of Sam Darnold through 16 games of the 2024 season, for example.
Moreover, Minnesota has the NFL’s sixth-best record since Kevin O’Connell took over in 2022. The Jets may want some of that shine, an explanation of why all three Vikings candidates are in the mix. One might recall the “friend of Sean McVay” bonanza during the coaching carousel a few years back.
Whichever leaders take over in New York must immediately decide a path for Aaron Rodgers, the Jets’ QB1. His conspiratorial, headline-stealing personality may not jibe with a new regime. Stay tuned.
The Jets should have a new general manager and head coach within the next few weeks.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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