Prior to accepting the head coaching position at the University of North Carolina, former New England Patriots HC Bill Belichick reached out to the Jets to express interest and gauge each other’s interest in the head coaching position, SNY NFL Insider Connor Hughes confirmed.
Although there was no formal conversation or interview as the opportunity at UNC arose.
Of course, Belichick and the Jets have a long history — he served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator under Bill Parcells from 1997-1999 and was hired by NY as head coach in January 2000, only to resign a day later to take the Patriots job. Belichick won six Super Bowls in New England, going 266-121 over 24 seasons.
New York fired the head coach Robert Saleh Oct. 8 after a 2-3 start to the 2024 season that had such high expectations. The Jets went 1-7 from the defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich took over as interim head coach.
The Jets are now in the midst of their fourth coaching search in a decade. Former head coach of the Tennessee Titans Mike Sparrow reportedly expressed interest in the job and the current offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers Arthur Smith he was mentioned as a “dark horse candidate” for the Jets job.
New York’s head coaching search is expected to be thorough, and they will talk to assistants, veterans, etc. as timing allows, Hughes notes. The Jets understand they have to get this hire right and will not rush the recruiting process.