Three teams in the National Football League (NFL) have made changes to their head coaching positions in the past week, sending shockwaves throughout the league. The latest to make a coaching change is the New York Jets, who fired head coach Adam Gase after just two seasons and one win. The move comes on the heels of a dismal 4-12 season that saw the team struggle to find any sort of consistency or spark.
The demise of the Jets is just the latest in a long line of head coach firings around the league. The New York Giants became the first to make a change, parting ways with head coach Pat Shurmur after a 4-12 season of their own. The move came as a surprise to many, but it marked the second time in three years that Shurmur has been let go by the Giants, who are still seeking their first Super Bowl title since 2011.
Rounding out the trio of coaching changes is the Cincinnati Bengals, who fired head coach Zac Taylor after just two seasons. The move comes on the heels of two straight losing seasons, including a 2-14 finish this year that saw the team struggle to find any sort of rhythm or momentum.
The rash of coaching changes has left many in the league scratching their heads, and it’s left teams scrambling to find the next best candidate to lead their respective franchises to the promised land. The search is already underway, with several high-profile assistants and coaches receiving consideration for the open positions.
The league is now on the hunt for the next Terry Shurmur, the Patriots’ former offensive coordinator who was hired by the Green Bay Packers during the 2019 offseason. The former coach’s fingerprints are all over the league, with several coaches who worked under him getting consideration for the open positions.
The moves may come as a surprise, but they’re a reflection of the intense competition and high-pressure environment that exists at the top levels of the NFL. For the next head coach, it’s all about longevity, wins and, of course, rings.
