Every former New York Jets head coach turned media member has expressed interest in interviewing for the job.
Well, not everyone.
Rex Ryan has made no qualms about his interest in succeeding Robert Saleh (and Jeff Ulbrich) at One Jets Drive. Eric Mangini didn’t deny his interest. And Bill Belichick — albeit now with North Carolina — even expressed interest.
But Herm Edwards? He’s not playing to win that game.
When Jake Asman asked Edwards on 880 ESPN New York on Thursday about taking an interview because everyone else and their mother has or will, Edwards informed the radio host that he is NOT interested in interviewing to be the Jets’ head coach again.
Herm Edwards tells me on @DRonESPN on @880ESPNNewYork that he is NOT interested in interviewing to be the #Jets head coach again… 😂
— Jake Asman (@JakeAsman) January 2, 2025
“No… No. I’ve had my fun,” Edwards said when jokingly asked if he plans to interview for the Jets’ gig. “I’m good. I am good.”
After a failed stint at Arizona State, his coaching days appear to be over.
Edwards was originally an NFL studio analyst at ESPN from 2009-17 before trying to revive a middling program in Tempe. Edwards led the Sun Devils to a 7-6 record in his first season at the helm and later recorded two 8-5 seasons. But despite some on-field success, his tenure was marred by controversy and NCAA violations, which put the program in a bad place.
Kenny Dillingham has since revived said program, which was unquestionably in a bad spot. But Edwards seemingly has no interest in pulling a Dillingham in Florham Park, New Jersey.
Not at 70 years old.
He “had his fun” coaching NYJ from 2001-05, in which he went 39-41 (2-3 in the playoffs). A 5-15 stretch during his final 20 regular season games, not to mention his ultra-conservative coaching style and his clock management — or lack thereof — eventually did him in.
He would later be traded to the Kansas City Chiefs and replaced by Mangini.
Edwards returned to the Worldwide Leader in 2022 and remains an NFL analyst. He co-hosted a weekly studio show, Monday Blitz, with Booger McFarland and Michael Eaves. The show blended NFL and college football coverage, and its production was overseen by Norby Williamson, who is no longer with the network.
Edwards hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2008, but that hasn’t precluded any other candidates from throwing their hats in the ring.
He just won’t be one of them. And that’s probably for the best.
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.