The New York Jets head coach and general manager vacancies have led to a busy first week of the offseason, and on Friday, their search took them to College Park.
The New York Jets are interviewing Maryland head coach Mike Locksley on Friday, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The franchise announced its completed interview with Locksley an hour later.
"The Jets have completed an interview with Mike Locksley for the Green & White's head coach position. Locksley has been the head coach at University of Maryland the past six seasons, having compiled a 32-36 record from 2019-24. Prior to a 4-8 campaign last season, the Terrapins recorded three consecutive winning campaigns and captured bowl victories in the Pinstripe Bowl, Duke's Mayo Bowl and the Music City Bowl. The Terps finished 8-5 in 2022 and ''23, marking the first time they had won eight or more games in back-to-back seasons since 2002-03," per release.
The news comes weeks after Maryland’s current head coach was named as a potential candidate for the vacant Chicago Bears head coaching role, while Locksley was also a candidate for the Miami Dolphins head coaching role before Mike McDaniel was hired in 2022.
Locksley becomes the latest candidate to interview for the Jets, who finished 5-12 after firing Robert Salah midseason. Locksley’s interview comes one day after the Jets also interviewed Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, per Adam Schefter. Former head coaches Ron Rivera, Mike Vrabel and Rex Ryan have also been interviewed by the Jets while Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy was virtually interviewed on Wednesday. The news comes on the same day that Schefter reported the Jets are expected to interview Tampa Bay assistant GM Mike Greenberg for its general manager job.
How the Jets’ roster for the 2025 season develops remains to be seen with a cloud over the future of Aaron Rodgers’ future, but the Jets have a pair of young offensive weapons in wide receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall that could make attractive for the Jets in Mike Locksley’s offense. Still, how New York’s search develops remains to be seen after casting a wide net as owner Woody Johnson looks to hit the reset button on the franchise yet again.
Mike Locksley has received two extensions in the last three years and is under contract at Maryland through 2028, making more than $6 million annually. He is 35-67 all-time as head coach, though he led the program to three consecutive bowl-winning seasons for the first time in decades. Maryland will look to turn the page after a disappointing 2024 season that ended on a five-game losing streak to finish 4-8 (1-7).
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