With Robert Saleh now gone, the New York Jets will have a new head coach in 2025. Assuming they don’t retain interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich in the role, they’ll likely cast a wide net. But will that net be cast over the college football ranks?
Right now four names are trending most heavily for the Jets: Ulbrich, Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. Even if the latter three don’t join the Jets, they’re highly likely to get head coaching jobs at another NFL team this year barring the unforeseen.
As it stands, those four coaches also have the best odds of getting the job right now. According to DraftKings Sportsbook via Fox News, Ulbrich, Slowik, Johnson and Vrabel all have +500 odds or better at landing the job.
However, two esteemed college football head coaches are slightly farther down the list. At +1400 each, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and Ohio State head coach Ryan Day have made the cut as well.
Odds for #Jets next head coach (DraftKings)
Ben Johnson +300
Bobby Slowik +400
Mike Vrabel +500
Jeff Ulbrich +500
Kliff Kingsbury +1000
Aaron Glenn+1000
Klint Kubiak +1200
Brian Flores +1200
Kirby Smart +1400
Todd Monken +1400 pic.twitter.com/L16uuvHiSi— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) October 9, 2024
Smart is a two-time national champion with one year of NFL experience from working under Nick Saban on the Miami Dolphins in 2006. He is 98-17 overall and has led the Bulldogs to seven straight top-seven finishes.
Day has two years of NFL coaching experience under Chip Kelly. He is 61-8 as a head coach with two Big Ten titles and was the runner-up in the 2020 College Football Playoff.
But there’s really not much to indicate that they would even have NFL interest, let alone give up the jobs they currently have to join a team with as many issues as the Jets. College football coaches who leave for the NFL tend to do so when there’s either an ideal situation in front of them, or a player they’re eager to work with.
We’re not going to tell you how to spend your money, but putting even a dollar on Smart or Day to join the Jets at +1400 seems like a waste.
Related: Jets Are Reportedly Looking Into Major College Head Coach