Ranking the 7 NFL Head Coaching Hires

Todd Bowles, New York Jets

I actually really admire this move by the Jets. Most that I’ve spoken to about the hiring of Todd Bowles, former Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator, think this is more of a lateral move for the team. I think, at the bare minimum, that it’s addition by subtraction. For the same reasons that I can’t get behind Rex Ryan in Buffalo, I can get behind a great defensive-minded coach who is a rookie in New York. Staff writer Brandon Gdula wrote up the fit for Bowles here.

Ryan had so much bravado and bluster and media hype around him; it wasn’t just New York media that created the carousel, Ryan loved it and fed it. Bowles, especially as a first time head coach, has none of that arrogance and stubbornness. As a calm leader, I expect the locker room to be more unified instantly behind him, and for him to understand his own shortcomings and rely on others to pick up where he has less experience. To this end, he hired experienced offensive mind in Chan Gailey to help revamp this team on the other side of the ball. I do think they will at least be more creative on offense in 2015 than in recent years, and that will be a boon, no matter what.

Ryan has always tried to make square pegs fit into round holes. Bowles has the youth, creativity, and know-how to change the holes to fit the pegs if he needs to, and I genuinely believe the Jets –- with a little TLC -– can make themselves legitimate playoff contenders with his steady hand at the helm.