Breaking: NY Jets Coach Eric Mangini Fired; Coaching Interviews Begin

This past off-season the NY Jets football ownership spent $140 million on free agent signings as the Jets got off to a hot start out of the gate, starting the season 8-3 and almost certain to make the playoffs. Yet, the Jets finished the season with only one more win, finishing at 9-7 and failing to make the playoffs. Today, on Monday December 29, Jets Coach Eric Mangini was fired by Owner Woody Johnson and General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.

In the off-season, the Jets signing Pro-Bowler Kris Jenkins at defensive tackle, traded for Hall of Famer Brett Favre at quarterback, upgraded the offensive line, brought in Pro-Bowl corner Ty Law, and made significant roster changes. The Jets started the season looking like could make a deep run into the playoffs as they started the season 8-3. The high point of their season was beating the Titans who had been undefeated prior to the game against the Jets. New Yorkers were dreaming of a Jets-Giants Super Bowl.

However, what ultimately doomed the Jets, and what got coach Mangini fired, was the lack of effort displayed by the team in their final games against the season. They showed some grit against the Dolphins, losing 24-17, but even the game against the Dolphins carryed little meaning, since the Jets had already been eliminated from the playoffs prior to the game against the Dolphins, due to wins by the Patriots and Ravens earlier in the day.

The Jets suffered an embarrassing loss to the Seahawks in their second to last game of the season, and earlier in the season they lost to the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers, both of which finished the season with losing records. In all of the final games down the stretch of the Jets season, Brett Favre was simply awful and looked like a tired 39 year old quarterback, instead of the winning charismatic player that the fans are used to seeing.

In Mangini's 3 year career with the Jets, he finished with a 24-26 record. Last year the Jets finished the season with only 4 wins. In addition to Mangini, the Browns also announced that their head coach Romeo Crenel would also be fired, marking the second former Bill Bellichek assistant to be fired. Brett Favre's future with the Jets remains uncertain and questions about his possible retirement are looming.

The Jets will begin their search for a new head coach but two intriguing possibilities to fill the vacancy are former Steelers coach and Hall of Famer Bill Cower and Giants Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Cower would bring passion and energy back to the Jets to light a fire under them.

NY Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is the man who guided the Giants to their Super Bowl last year with their high powered defense in managing to contain Brady's high powered offense. Spagnoulo has led the Giants defense to another solid season in only his second season in the position. Previously, he had been an assistant defensive coach for eight years under the Eagles legendary defensive coach Jim Johnson. Last year the Washington Redskins had interviewed Spagnuolo to be their head coach but he took himself out of consideration to sign a three year deal with the Giants. However, if the Jets were to offer him enough money, Spagnuolo would almost certainly take the head coaching spot.