FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — After a season marked by profound struggles on offense and the regression of quarterback Zach Wilson, the New York Jets and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur parted methods on Wednesday, in keeping with a supply.
The current hypothesis about LaFleur’s job standing prompted groups to inquire about his availability, a supply mentioned, and the Jets allowed him to pursue these alternatives. The seek for a alternative begins Thursday.
The transfer got here as no shock, because the Jets confirmed no statistical enchancment below LaFleur, 36, one of many first to affix coach Robert Saleh’s workers in 2021.
This was tough for Saleh, who has recognized LaFleur for about 20 years. LaFleur is the youthful brother of Inexperienced Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur, one among Saleh’s closest mates. Per week in the past, Saleh publicly advocated for Mike LaFleur, fueling hypothesis that proprietor Woody Johnson was pressuring to make a change. The Jets claimed that wasn’t the case, with common supervisor Joe Douglas saying Monday that Saleh has the ultimate say on coaching-staff selections.
This implies they are going to have no less than two positions to fill on the offensive workers. Saleh indicated he “undoubtedly” desires to rent a senior offensive assistant, primarily to fill the position that was created in 2021 for the late Greg Knapp. Former Houston Texans and Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak has been rumored as a chance, however he is not anticipated to return out of retirement.
“It is a production-based enterprise; you are not going to run from that,” LaFleur mentioned final week. “I grew up in a household of coaches — my dad’s been fired, my brother’s been fired. Each coach goes to be fired sooner or later and rehired. It is simply the cycle — that is what it’s. That does not hold me up at evening or put me to sleep.”
Saleh’s hope was that LaFleur, a first-time coordinator, would develop with Wilson, drafted second total in 2021. For a wide range of causes, Wilson struggled in each seasons and was benched twice in 2022.
The offense bottomed out throughout the homestretch, because the Jets failed to attain a landing within the last three video games — the staff’s longest drought since 2010. All informed, they went the ultimate 31 possessions of the season with no landing, the league’s longest streak in 2022.
With out a lot offensive help, the Jets (7-10) ended on a six-game dropping streak, costing them a playoff spot.
LaFleur presided over an offense that completed twenty ninth in scoring and twenty fifth in complete yards. In 2021, they had been twenty eighth and twenty sixth, respectively.
The Jets confirmed promise early, however a season-ending damage to operating again Breece Corridor and a spate of offensive-line accidents made it tough to maintain. They had been 5-2 with Corridor within the lineup, 2-8 with out him.
They did some good issues below LaFleur — large receiver Garrett Wilson was one of many prime offensive rookies within the league — however Zach Wilson’s acute struggles proved an excessive amount of for LaFleur to beat. Garrett Wilson hinted the Jets’ offense grew to become too predictable.
“I appeared like [opponents] had an concept of what we had been making an attempt to do, they usually did an excellent job of stopping us as soon as they bought the movie collectively,” Garrett Wilson mentioned. “On the finish of the 12 months, it bought actual arduous for us as an offense.”
Adversity hit early, as Zach Wilson injured his proper knee within the first quarter of the primary preseason recreation, leading to arthroscopic surgical procedure and inflicting him to overlook the primary three regular-season video games. The Jets opened with Joe Flacco, who was changed by Wilson, who ultimately was benched for Mike White. They went again to Wilson when White was injured, however Wilson performed poorly and was benched once more.
“By way of two years, yeah, we have not executed our job with him,” LaFleur mentioned of Wilson. “… The gamers have to satisfy you within the center with it, however you need all these guys to play at their very best and everyone knows that Zach hasn’t performed at his very best.”
Altering coordinators is not a brand new development for the Jets. LaFleur was their eighth offensive coordinator in an 11-year span.