NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
Cowboys coach Bill Parcells early in the game as the Dallas Cowboys defeated the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 34 to 31 at Monster Park, San Francisco, California, September 25, 2005. (Photo by Robert B. Stanton/NFLPhotoLibrary)
Cowboys coach Bill Parcells early in the game as the Dallas Cowboys defeated the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 34 to 31 at Monster Park, San Francisco, California, September 25, 2005. (Photo by Robert B. Stanton/NFLPhotoLibrary) /

3. Walt Michaels (1977-82), 39-47-1 record

It is said that history is written by the winners, but Michaels got the raw end of the stick on this one. The Jets just celebrated the 50th anniversary of their Super Bowl III win, but if things had played out differently for Michaels and the Jets, Michaels would most certainly be higher on this list. (Maybe No. 1)

In his first four seasons, Michaels never led the Jets to a record above .500. In his fifth season, the Jets were 10-5-1, and they made the playoffs. Following that season the players struck. Following the strike, the season was limited to nine games, and the top eight teams in each conference made the playoffs, regardless of division. The Jets made it to the conference championship game for the first time since the merger.

That would set up a meeting with division foe Miami. That season the Jets had a dynamic running attack. It was so dynamic that many people thought the Jets would win that game and represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. There was heavy rain in Miami the day before the game, and unbeknownst to the Jets, the Dolphins didn’t tarp the field, and the muddy field put the Jets at a distinct disadvantage. They lost 14-0, and that was the end of the Walt Michaels era.

2. Bill Parcells (1997-99), 29-19 record

Whether it be from a league-wide perspective or an individual organization perspective, very few people are on a list of one in sports. Bill Parcells is one of those people. Parcells is the only coach in the history of the franchise to coach more than one season and finish with a winning record.

When the Jets hired Parcells, Paul Tagliabue negotiated a trade between the organizations. The Jets gave Parcells full control over player personnel. In his first season, the Jets picked Keyshawn Johnson with the No. 1 overall pick, and they went from 1-15 to 9-7.

By the second season, they made the playoffs for the first time since 1991. They met the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game and went into halftime with the lead. Unfortunately for the Jets, they couldn’t hold onto the lead and lost their second straight appearance in the AFC Championship Game since the merger.

When the 1999 season began, many believed the Jets were one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. However, the Parcells era would end similarly to the Michaels era in terms of an unlucky break. Vinny Testaverde would rupture his Achilles in Week 1 of that season, and it would completely derailing their season. The team would finish 8-8, and Parcells would retire from coaching.

1. Weeb Ewbank (1962-72), 71-77-6 record

Parcells once famously said you are what your record says you are. So that means 71-77-6 isn’t all that great, and not if you want to No. 1 on a list, right? Well, when you’re the only coach to win a world championship, then you become the best.

After guiding the Colts to consecutive NFL championships in 1958-59, he left the Colts to become the head coach and general manager of the newly minted New York Jets (after changing their name from the Titans). He began his Jets career with four straight 5-8-1 seasons.

Next. 20 Bold predictions for the Divisional Round. dark

However, after building the roster he wanted, they went 6-6-2 and followed that up with an 8-5-1 record. They finally won the AFL Eastern Division title in 1968 leading to an AFL Championship game tilt with the Raiders. Then the Super Bowl upset of the Colts, which cemented the AFL as a legitimate league.

Ewbank is the franchise leader in games coached and wins, and he’s second only to Rex Ryan in playoff victories. It’s very close between he and Parcells, but the tiebreaker is the Super Bowl win.

Home/New York Jets