After a turbulent season, the Jets will have a new offensive coordinator next season.
The Jets and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur parted ways Wednesday, according to a source. Earlier in the day, a report said LaFleur had been fired, but it was said to be inaccurate, according to a source at the time.
The reports of LaFleur’s status led teams to inquire about his services for next season. This move allows him to pursue other opportunities as the Jets will begin to search for his replacement starting Thursday.
The Jets offense struggled throughout the 2022 season, finishing 25th in total yardage (318.2) and 29th in points per game (17.4). The Jets offense didn’t improve much from LaFleur’s first season in Florham Park, as they ranked 28th in points per game (18.2) and 26th in yardage (306.4). It didn’t help LaFleur’s cause that the Jets defense improved from 32nd last year to fourth in the league this season.
Not only did the Jets lose six consecutive games to end the 2022 season at 7-10, but their offense was the main culprit. Gang Green failed to find the end zone in its last three games, including Sunday’s 11-6 loss to the Dolphins to end the season.
During the Jets 5-2 start, the team’s offense was led by rookie running back Breece Hall. But he tore his ACL in late October and the Jets only won two games the rest of the season.
As little as two weeks ago, Robert Saleh backed LaFleur after the Jets didn’t score a touchdown in the 23-6 loss at Seattle. Saleh hoped LaFleur and the Jets offense would improve, but that didn’t happen.
LaFleur also received a lot of criticism on the way he handled second-year quarterback Zach Wilson and the Jets quarterback carousel this year as Mike White and Joe Flacco also received time under center. Wilson suffered a preseason meniscus tear in the year’s first preseason game.
After Wilson returned three games into the year following a 1-2 start, the Jets offense never got on track as he regressed from his rookie season. Wilson was eventually benched multiple times as he threw for 1,688 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions.
“It always starts with the coach,” Saleh said on Monday about the team’s offensive struggles. “It always starts with me, there’s an identity, there’s a mindset, there’s principles, but at the same time, there’s a lot of things.
“Like I said, it’s not the quarterback’s fault, it’s not the O-line’s fault, it’s not a receivers, it’s not the coordinator, it’s all-encompassing, it’s football, there’s 11 players on the team, every player has a coach and so it’s about finding out how we can get better together and making sure that it’s collective, but we all own a piece of it.”
Now the Jets will look for a new offensive coordinator in a critical year for the franchise and Saleh. Gang Green has not made the playoffs since 2010 and it will be the third season for Saleh as the team’s head coach.
The Jets will also likely need to find a new quarterback after sitting Wilson for the final two games of the year. They plan to keep developing Wilson, but players that have been rumored are Raiders quarterback Derek Carr or 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Saleh also told reporters that he wanted to fill a senior coaching assistant role that was first created when the Jets hired Greg Knapp in 2021 before he died in a bicycle accident. One name that has been rumored to be in line for the Jets is former Texans and Broncos coach Gary Kubiak.
“We had Knapper [Gregg Knapp], God rest his soul,” Saleh said. “I can look back and reflect on whether or not I should’ve replaced that position last year. I chose not to. I wanted to quiet the room, but that is a position that we’re definitely going to replace.”.
