AFC East Report: Jets hire Adam Gase as their new head coach

After the end of the regular season, two of the AFC East’s four teams decided to part ways with their head coaches: the New York Jets fired Todd Bowles after four years at the job, while the Miami Dolphins let Adam Gase go after three seasons. Yesterday, one of the two clubs filled the vacancy atop its coaching staff. According to numerous reports, the Jets have decided to hire Gase as their new head coach.

The 40-year old got his start in the NFL with the Detroit Lions and via a short stint in San Francisco found his way to the Denver Broncos: then-head coach and now-New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels brought him in to work with the wide receivers. While McDaniels was fired one year later, Gase stayed an eventually worked his way up to offensive coordinator.

Working alongside future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, Gase coordinated the Broncos’ record breaking 2013 campaign. Two years later, he left Colorado to re-join head coach John Fox with the Chicago Bears — t’was a short stint: in 2016, the Dolphins made Gase their new head coach. While he did make the playoffs in his first year with the club, Gase ultimately left town with a 23-26 record.

He will get a new chance in the same conference, now, but face plenty of challenges considering that the Jets have one of the league’s worst rosters. However, there are three signs of hope for both Gase and the club:

1. New York has plenty of cap space (estimated at around $99.4 million, via OverTheCap.com)

2. New York holds the third overall pick in this year’s draft

3. New York has a talented young quarterback in Sam Darnold

One reason why the Jets may have opted to bring Gase in might be his only somewhat justified reputation as a bright offensive mind and quarterback guru. With Darnold entering year two after an oftentimes encouraging rookie season, Gase will play a key role in his development — and thus considerably shape the future of an organization that is on an eight-year playoff drought.

Jets fans are apparently not too thrilled about the hire, though. According to a poll conducted by our colleagues at Gang Green Nation, 39% graded the hire with an F.

With the Jets’ job filled, only two coaching vacancies — both in the AFC — remain. The full list of hires looks as follows:

New York Jets: Adam Gase

Cincinnati Bengals: vacant

Denver Broncos: Vic Fangio

Cleveland Browns: Freddie Kitchens

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bruce Arians

Arizona Cardinals: Kliff Kingsbury

Miami Dolphins: vacant

Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur