John Harbaugh to Stay at Ravens, Jets Should Look at McCarthy

Jets fans hoping that John Harbaugh would coach their team next season can now forget that pipedream.

To really nobody’s surprise, the Baltimore Ravens announced Friday night that Harbaugh will remain with the franchise for the 2019 season and beyond. The Ravens plan on working out a multi-year extension with Harbaugh, whose current contract runs out at the end of next season. 

Harbaugh, who is the winningest coach in Ravens history with a record of 112-77, and a victory in Super Bowl XLVII, was rumored to be fired as recently as mid-November when the team was standing at 4-5 after a 23-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Then Harbaugh embraced change and went with rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson over the oft-injured and ineffective Joe Flacco. It had to be a tough decision for Harbaugh, because Flacco has been his guy their entire time together in Baltimore. The Ravens responded extremely well with Jackson under center; they are 4-1 in their last five games, with a hold on the final wild card spot.

Harbaugh was expected to be the apple of many coach-deprived teams’ eyes this off-season, including the Jets. Instead the game plan is going to have to change.

If the Jets want to an experienced head coach to lead the team the only guy available with a successful resume is Mike McCarthy.

McCarthy was fired after the Packers lost to the hapless Arizona Cardinals in week 13. McCarthy won 125 games and a Super Bowl over 12 seasons in Green Bay. While his relationship with Aaron Rodgers crumbled the last two seasons, he is the offensive-minded coach the Jets are looking for.

Last Saturday, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo said McCarthy was at the top of the Jets’ wish list, and that Gang Green would be “big game hunting” for a new head coach. With Harbaugh out of the picture, McCarthy’s value is only going to increase.

After McCarthy the coaching waters get murky.

Do the Jets roll the dice on a college coach? Matt Campbell of Iowa State has long been rumored to draw interest from the NFL, but he just signed an extension. Everyone and their grandmother love Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley, but he has shown no intention of leaving the Sooners anytime soon.

College coaches jumping to the NFL is a huge gamble. Outside of Jimmy Johnson, and to an extent Barry Switzer (who was coaching Johnson’s players in Dallas), college coaches struggle in the NFL. Nick Saban? Steve Spurrier? Chip Kelly? All failed as NFL head coaches.

Then there are the NFL assistant coaches. John DiFilippo was recently fired in Minnesota. Outside of being the quarterback coach for the Eagles last year, DiFilippo has been fired at every stop he held an offensive coordinator job.

Titans Offensive Coordinator Matt LaFluer has run the Titans offense into the ground. Outside of Derrick Henry’s late season surge at running back, the Titans never score, and quarterback Marcus Mariota has regressed.

Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Eric Bienemy and Saints Offensive Coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. have also been named as potential head coaching candidates. But how much impact do those two really have when Andy Reid and Sean Payton are calling the plays for those respective teams?

A wild card candidate could be Patriots Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels. But let’s get real, Bill Belichick will never allow McDaniels to leave the Patriots to coach the Jets. And considering McDaniel’s checkered history, he would be an extremely risky choice.

If the Jets don’t go with the offensive coordinator route, they could target Chiefs Special Teams coach Dave Toub. 

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera is also rumored to be on the Hot Seat after the Panthers disappointing season this year.  Rivera is a defensive coordinator by trade, but he has done a solid job as a head coach in Carolina. Like Harbaugh, I’ll believe a potential Rivera firing when I see it.