The first big coaching move in the NFL happened on Tuesday, with the Jets parting ways with head coach Robert Saleh. But according to FS1’s Joel Klatt, it doesn’t exactly matter who the Jets get as their long-term coaching replacement in the future.
Saleh’s departure sparks the obvious question as to who will be coaching the Jets for years to come. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will get the first crack at the job as the team’s interim head coach for the rest of the season.
But we have seen in the past that unless interim coaches drastically turn around their team’s fortune, owners are more inclined to find a more qualified long-term option after the season.
On Wednesday’s edition of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Klatt and Cowherd discussed the future of the Jets, where Cowherd argued that former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel would “set Aaron Rodgers straight”.
“I like Vrabel,” said Cowherd. “I respect him, I like him. I’ve liked him forever.”
“Why, do you think he’s going to set Aaron straight,” replied Klatt. “Like I don’t understand.”
“Oh, yeah,” answered Cowherd.
Klatt then shared his belief that NFL coaches “don’t matter,” arguing that quarterbacks are ultimately the biggest factor in a team’s success.
“Here’s a thing you have to understand about the NFL,” said Klatt. “It doesn’t matter who your coach is. It matters who your quarterback is. Has Bill Belichick done anything without Tom Brady? No, Has Andy Reid done anything without Patrick Mahomes? I’m not saying that they’re not good. But what are we trying to do here. Are we trying to be good or are we trying to win Super Bowls? Because the New York Jets are all in on winning a Super Bowl. That’s why you bring Aaron Rodgers in. Now you are trying to bring in a coach that’s going to get him to the Divisional Round. Good for you, you guys were kinda good.”
“Here’s the thing that you gotta understand about the NFL. It doesn’t matter who your coach is.” – Joel Klatt pic.twitter.com/HDVJ3sbn6l
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 9, 2024
Ultimately, it has been very evident as of late that you do need to have an elite-level quarterback if you want to become a Super Bowl-winning team. But to say that coaches don’t matter at all certainly sounds a bit ridiculous.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has coached for the organization for 17 seasons and hasn’t had one losing year. And that is with numerous quarterbacks under center in Pittsburgh. Especially as of late.
In order to even have a chance of making a Super Bowl, you have to first make it to the playoffs. And it can certainly be argued that a great head coach can will a team that otherwise lacks in talent to the postseason.
Either way, it sure seems like Klatt is set on his take that whoever the Jets select as their head coach won’t end up playing too much of a factor in the team’s success.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.