The Jets will continue their search for their next head coach Friday with Adam Gase set to interview for their opening, according to multiple reports.
Gase, the former Dolphins coach who was fired on Monday, is considered a good offensive mind who has received plenty of support from Peyton Manning.
The two worked together in Denver, where Gase was the offensive coordinator when Manning threw an NFL-record 55 touchdown passes in 2013 and another 39 the following season. The Broncos finished in the top four in yards and points both seasons.
When Gase was hired by the Dolphins in 2016, Manning said, "Adam had a great impact on me during our years together. ... He's an extremely hard worker, a grinder. He's extremely bright on all things football, an excellent communicator and always eager to learn more."
But Gase didn't have much success in his three years with Miami. His quarterbacks were Ryan Tannehill, Matt Moore, Jake Cutler and Brock Osweiler.
The Dolphins went 10-6 in Gase's first season and reached the playoffs. Gase was 13-19 the last two seasons. The Dolphins were next-to-last in yards this season and 26th in scoring.
The Jets are expected to hire a coach with a strong offensive background who can help quarterback Sam Darnold develop. The Jets' last five head coaches cut their teeth on the defensive side of the football. Todd Bowles, who was fired Sunday, was a defensive coordinator before becoming the Jets coach.
Gase was the wide receivers coach in Denver for two years and then quarterbacks coach for two more before becoming offensive coordinator. He also spent one season as the Bears' offensive coordinator before taking over the Dolphins.
Reportedly, Gase also will interview with the Cardinals and could meet with the Browns for their opening.
The Jets' first known interview was with Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy on Wednesday in Kansas City. He has never been a head coach, and is completing his first season as Kansas City's offensive coordinator.
Jets CEO Christopher Johnson said it's not a requirement to have previous head coaching experience. But Johnson said it would be "a big plus" if the person had developed a young quarterback. He called Darnold a "franchise quarterback."
To that end, the Jets are expected to meet with former Packers coach Mike McCarthy, who helped groom Aaron Rodgers into one of the best quarterbacks in football. They won a Super Bowl together.
But McCarthy was fired during the season, amid some reported discord between he and Rodgers.
McCarthy is said to be interviewing with the Jets and Browns, who also have a gifted young quarterback in Baker Mayfield. Onetime Jets quarterback Brett Favre, who played for McCarthy with the Packers, believes his former coach would be a great hire for either team.
"I think what's important with a coach and a quarterback is understanding their strengths and their weaknesses and where they are in their developmental stage and how you call plays and how much you place upon them," Favre said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "Too many times I think a coach places too much on a young quarterback. As you see them grow, you say, 'Can you handle the protection part of it?' And you do that slowly. Mike does a really good job of that.
"Also, Mike is a very good coach in regards to discipline and toughness. He's going to engrain toughness into his players. I think he's a great choice for any of these teams but those two in particular because of the quarterback situations."
Former Colts and Lions coach Jim Caldwell is expected to interview for the Jets' job, as is former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury. Other known candidates include Cowboys passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Kris Richard and Bucs offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
The Richard interview won't be this week. The Cowboys play the Seahawks on Saturday night in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Other names who could emerge as candidates include Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor, Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael and tight ends coach Dan Campbell, and Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski.
