Chan Gailey Retires, Jets Release 5 Other Coaches

Jets head coach Todd Bowles. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The New York Jets announced today that offensive coordinator Chan Gailey will be retiring and head coach Todd Bowles informed five coaches that they will not be returning for the 2017 season. Those coaches are: quarterback coach Kevin Patella, running backs coach Marcel Shipp, defensive line coach Pepper Johnson, OLB’s coach Mark Collins and defensive backs coach Joe Danna.

Most of these firings were obvious towards the end of the season as the Jets struggled at these positions all year. The most questionable position was the defensive line as there was an array of talent and depth at the position for the Jets. Pepper Johnson struggled to get them ready week by week and also struggled to leave them accountable as numerous leaders on the defensive line missed team meetings, such as team stars Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson.

Chan Gailey issued a statement earlier today that was published in Senior Jets Reporter Eric Allen’s article on when he informed coach Bowles of his decision to retire.

“ I informed Coach Bowles poor to the 2016 season that I would retire after this season. I thought it was best to tell him early, so that he could begin to think about how he would move the team forward on offense. While we did not have the season we all wanted to have, I think there are some great people here at the Jets and in New York/New Jersey area. I wish them all the best moving forward.”

Gailey has spent a lifetime in the NFL that has spanned 18 years with the Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Buffalo Bills in numerous positions. Gailey led a great offense in 2015 with the Jets who saw a quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick and wide receiver Brandon Marshall rewrite the Jets history books at their respected positions. The offense also had a franchise record 5,925 yards and scored 387 points in 2015, which is the most in a season since 1998.

The firings of these coaches today by the Jets were obvious that this was going to happen since they had a rough season after many went into this season with high expectations. The reason why there was so many high expectations going into this season for the Jets was because they went 10-6 last season just one game shy of making the playoffs. The positional coaches who were let go today saw success a year ago in these positions, but failed to continue that success this season. There was no talent issues at these positions other than quarterback as Jets General Manager Mike Maccagnan was able to retain most of the talent, most notable was on the defensive line as the Jets were able to extend Wilkerson.

Bowles kept his job so he had to make these decisions to help lead the team in the right direction for 2017 and beyond. The Jets defense was ranked 28th in the league this year after being near the top just a season ago. The Jets ranked 26th in the league in total offense this season too. Patella, Johnson, Shipp, Collins, and Danna were all on coach Bowles staff last year. There could be more changes coming, but for now defensive coordinator Kacy Rogers and special-teams coordinator Brant Boyer will remain with the team.

The Jets will continue this offseason to make changes to their personnel and are confident that they can get the issues that haunted them this year fixed before week 1 of next season. Many Jets diehards hope that Bowles and Maccagnan could get the Jets back on track to their winning ways that many saw just a season ago.