4. Herm Edwards
“You play to win the game!” That’s the mantra we all remember from that press conference from Coach Herm. In doing so, Edwards did something that had never been done in franchise history with the New York Jets, and he began a trend. Edwards became the second head coach, after Bill Parcells, in team history to begin his Jets coaching career with a 10-win season. Since he left, every coach has done the same.
Edwards led the Jets to the playoffs three times during his tenure in East Rutherford, NJ. That includes an AFC East title, one of only three Jets coaches to win a division championship. He also left the Jets with the third highest winning percentage at .488. Additionally, he’s second in franchise history in postseasons games coached with five.
He is one of only five coaches to last five or more seasons with the team, and he’s one of four coaches in the franchise with two or more playoff wins. Edwards had to be the coach that endured the transition from Parcells, and he won despite a quarterback who was average at best. Getting this team to two 10-win seasons, one division title and three postseasons is very impressive. It’s time to give him his due.