New York Jets' timeline of failed head coaches since 2000, from Bill Belichick to Robert Saleh

The New York Jets were founded in 1960 as the New York Titans but re-branded as the Jets in 1963. From 1963 to 2000 — that's 37 years — New York had 11 head coaches. In the 24 years since 2000, the team has had nine.

Robert Saleh became the eighth head coach for the Jets since 2000 when he was hired in 2021. After a 2-3 start to the 2024 season, though, Saleh was fired by team owner Woody Johnson. Jeff Ulbrich was named the interim and became the ninth head coach of the Jets since 2000, albeit with an interim tag.

Let's take a look back at the head coaches over the last two and a half decades of Jets football.

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Jets head coaches since 2000

Bill Belichick

Record: 0-0

You may be surprised to see Belichick's name here since he never actually coached a game for New York. Bill Parcells was the head coach from 1997-99 and decided to step down from his head coaching role to shift to a general manager role with New York.

Parcells was in charge of hiring his replacement and chose to promote Belichick who had been serving as his assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. However, Belichick scribbled a resignation note on a napkin and spent his press conference that was supposed to be about his taking over as the Jets head coach, explaining why he was resigning. 

Belichick then became the New England Patriots head coach and the franchise had to trade a first round pick for the rights to Belichick after the league intervened. 

Al Groh

Record: 9-7

Parcells wasn't expecting to conduct a coaching search when he became the GM. He ended up promoting linebackers coach Al Groh. He had been part of Belichick's defensive staff with the Cleveland Browns and worked with Parcells when he was in New England from 1993 to 1996. 

Groh only lasted through the 2000 season. At the end of it, he asked permission from Parcells to interview with the University of Virginia for its head coaching job. Groh took over at the helm of the Cavaliers and was at the school until 2009.

Herman Edwards

Record: 39-41

Edwards had been the assistant head coach and defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996-2000. He got his first chance to be a head coach with the Jets and has one of the longer tenures since 2000. Edwards wasn't fired and didn't resign. Instead, he was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs for a fourth round pick in 2006. 

Eric Mangini

Record: 23-25

The Patriots-Jets pipeline added another layer in 2006. Mangini went from being the defensive coordinator for New England in 2005 to New York's head coach in 2006. At the time, he was the youngest head coach in the NFL at 35 years old. Mangini is who turned in the Patriots for "Spygate." He was fired a day after the 2008 regular season ended. The Jets had started 8-3 that season but ended up missing the playoffs.

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Rex Ryan

Record: 46-50

Ryan was another defensive mind that was named a head coach of the Jets. He had been with the Baltimore Ravens organization since 1999, most recently serving as their assistant head coach and defensive coodinator in 2008. Ryan spent six seasons with New York and was the team's longest tenured coach since 1990. Despite having players voting in his favor, Ryan was fired in December 2014. 

Ryan has had the last laugh, though, because his consecutive AFC Championship game appearances in 2009 and 2010 still mark the most recent trips to the postseason for the Jets.

Todd Bowles

Record: 24-40

After firing Ryan, the Jets brought in Todd Bowles to be the next head coach. It was his first shot at being a head coach, and he came over from being the defensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals. Bowles lasted four seasons before being let go.

Adam Gase

Record: 9-23

After several failed experiments making defensive coordinators head coaches for the first time, New York decided to go with someone that was offensive minded and had experience as a head coach. They stayed in the division and went with Adam Gase who had been the head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2016-2018. Gase didn't win over his players or fans and was fired after just two seasons.

Gase won five games against New York when he was with Miami, and only won a combined nine as the head coach for the Jets.

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Robert Saleh

Record: 20-36

New York went back with what they thought they knew and brought in another defensive-minded coach to be the head coach. Saleh served as the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers from 2017-2020, and was a highly sought after head coach for the 2021 cycle. He landed in New York, and while many gave him the benefit of the doubt due to not having reliable starting quarterback play, Saleh was fired after Week 5 in the 2024 season. The Jets were 2-3 at the time of Saleh's firing.

Jeff Ulbrich

Record: 0-0

After firing Saleh, Ulbrich was named the interim head coach of the Jets by owner Woody Johnson. Ulbrich had been Saleh's defensive coordinator for the past three years. He hasn't ever been a head coach, but Johnson said he believes the team is in win-now mode and that Ulbrich will have the chance to earn the permanent head coaching position.