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New York Jets: Ranking every coach in franchise history

By Michael Pallas

28 Jul 1998: General view of the new helmets for the New York Jets during the 1998 New York Jets Training Camp at the Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Mandatory Credit: Todd Warshaw /Allsport
28 Jul 1998: General view of the new helmets for the New York Jets during the 1998 New York Jets Training Camp at the Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Mandatory Credit: Todd Warshaw /Allsport /
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30 Nov 1994: Coach Pete Carroll of the New York Jets confers with a fellow coach during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Dolphins won the game, 28-24. Mandatory Credit: Simon Bruty /Allsport
30 Nov 1994: Coach Pete Carroll of the New York Jets confers with a fellow coach during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Dolphins won the game, 28-24. Mandatory Credit: Simon Bruty /Allsport /

9. Pete Carroll (1994), 6-10 record

Pete Carroll’s short tenure with the Jets began promisingly. They were 6-5 and heading into Miami with a chance to begin a tenure on the right note. They had a chance at first place in the AFC with a win there.

There was one problem, Dan Marino was on the other side in that game, and he was ready to trick the Jets into oblivion. With 24 seconds left and the clock running Dan Marino ran the now infamous “fake spike,” and the Jets would lose that game and finish the season with five consecutive losses.

The Jets would fire Carroll after the season and, even though hindsight is always 20/20, given what followed at USC and with the Seahawks, it may have been a mistake by them to no let him see where this team could’ve gone after the 6-5 start.

8. Eric Mangini (2006-08), 23-25 record

The time of the Mangenius was short lived in New York it was a roller coaster ride that ended abruptly on something beyond his control. His tenure began with a 10-6 season in which the team earned a Wild Card and a date with the New England Patriots. They lost that game in Foxborough by 21.

After an injury to Chad Pennington saw the end of Pennington’s time in New York. The Jets fell to 4-12, and then things would get exciting in New York. The Jets would trade for Brett Favre, and the wild ride of 2008 would begin. The Jets began the season 3-3, but after five-straight wins, the Jets were 8-3 and staring at a potential playoff berth and division title.

There was one problem. Favre was injured, and his play deteriorated down the stretch leading to losses in four of the final five games. The Jets missed the playoffs and subsequently fired Mangini.

7. Bruce Coslet (1990-93), 26-38 record

With many fans wanting an offensive minded coach for 2019, Coslet is the cautionary tale of that not going right for the franchise. He made his bones on the offensive side of the ball prior to becoming the head coach in Gotham in 1990, but the offense didn’t fair too well with him guiding it.

The offense was mediocre at best in his four seasons. Even though he had two 8-8 seasons, with one of them making the playoffs (one of eight coaches to lead the Jets to the playoffs), it was a one-and-done postseason for the Jets, and they didn’t even sniff the playoffs in the other three seasons — finishing fourth, fourth and third in the other three seasons.

In 1993, it was clear the Jets needed to make the playoffs to save Coslet’s job, and after acquiring Boomer Esiason from the Bengals, the Jets started 8-5, and they looked like they’d be in the playoffs. They ended the season 8-8, and Coslet was gone.

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