The History of New York Jets Head Coaches

In 2009 Rex Ryan will become the 17^th Head Coach in New York Jets history. Here is a look at the other 16 Head Coaches in Jets history.

Sammy Baugh -1960-1961. Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh is named the first Head Coach in franchise history. He leads the Titans, as they are than known, to back to back 7 and 7 seasons.

Clyde "Bulldog" Turner - 1962. Turner replaces Sammy Baugh as Head Coach in 1962. The Jets finish in last place with a 5 and 9 record and Turner is not brought back in 1963.

Weeb Ewbank - 1963-1973. Weeb Ewbank who led the Baltimore Colts to back to back NFL Championships in 1958 and 1959 is named the third Head Coach in franchise history. The Jets finish 5-8-1 in each of his first three seasons. He leads the Jets to their first winning season in 1967 with an 8-5-1 record. In 1968 he not only leads the Jets to their first postseason appearance but also to their first AFL Championship. The Jets represent the AFL in Super Bowl III, where the Jets shock the football world by defeating the heavily favored Baltimore Colts. Weeb Ewbank becomes the first and only coach to win a championship in both the AFL and NFL. He leads the Jets back to the postseason in 1969. Ewbank would go onto coach the Jets for another four seasons before retiring after the 1973 season. In his 11 seasons as Head Coach Ewbank would go 71-77-6. He has the most wins as Head Coach in New York Jets history.

Charley Winner - 1974-1975. Charley Winner replaces Weeb Ewbank in 1974. In his first season as Head Coach the Jets finish 7 and 7. The team started the season 1 and 7 but win their final six games. After starting the 1975 season at 2 and 7 Winner is relieved of his coaching responsibilities. He finishes with a 9 and 14 record as Jets Head Coach.

Ken Shipp - 1975. Shipp replace Charley Winner with five games to go in the 1975 season. The Jets go 1 and 4 under Ken Shipp.

Lou Holtz - 1976. The Jets hire college coach Lou Holtz as the sixth coach in franchise history. He would resign with one game to go in the season with a record of 3 and 10.

Mike Holovak - 1976. Assistant coach Mike Holovak coaches the final game of the season. The Jets lose the game to the Cincinnati Bengals 42 to 3.

Walt Michaels - 1977-1982. Walt Michaels who had served as defensive coordinator under Lou Holtz was named Head Coach in 1977. In his first season the Jets would go 3 and 11. The Jets would than have back to back 8 and 8 seasons in 1978 and 1979. In 1981 Walt Michaels led the Jets to the playoffs for the first time since 1969 with a 10-5-1 record. He would again lead the Jets to the playoffs in 1982. In 1982 he would lead the Jets all the way to the AFC Championship game, but the Jets would lose the game 14-0. Michaels would resign as coach following the 1982 season with a 39-47-1 record.

Joe Walton - 1983-1989. Offensive coordinator Joe Walton is named to replace Walt Michaels in 1983. Joe Walton would coach the Jets for seven seasons leading them to back to back playoff appearances in 1985 and 1986. Joe Walton would finish his Jets coaching career with a 53-57-1 record.

Bruce Coslet - 1990-1993. The Jets hired Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Bruce Coslet to be their 10^th Head Coach. Coslet would go 26 and 38 in his four seasons as Jets coach. He did lead them to the playoffs in 1991 with only an 8 and 8 record.

Pete Carroll - 1994. Carroll who had been Bruce Coslet's defensive coordinator was hired as Head Coach for the 1994 season. The Jets would start off the season 6 and 4 but would loose the final six games to finish 6 and 10. Pete Carroll was fired after one season.

Rich Kotite - 1995-1996. Rich Kotite who had been the Head Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles is hired as Jets Head Coach in 1995. In two seasons as coach the Jets would go 4 and 28 including a franchise worst 1 and 15 in 1996. Kotite was fired after two seasons.

Bill Parcells - 1997-1999. The Jets hire Bill Parcells away from their division rivals the New England Patriots. Bill Parcells had won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants and led the Patriots to the Super Bowl in 1996. Parcells quickly turns around the Jets fortunes leading them to a 9 and 7 record in 1997. In 1998 Parcells would lead the Jets to their first division title since 1969. He would lead the Jets all the way to the AFC Championship game but they would lose to the Denver Broncos falling one game shy of the Super Bowl. The Jets would slip to 8 and 8 in 1999 and Parcells would resign as Head Coach. In three seasons as Head Coach Parcells would go 29 and 19 and becomes the first Jets Coach to post a winning record in franchise history.

Al Groh - 2000. Al Groh who had served as linebackers coach under Parcells was hired to replace him in 2000. He would go 9 and 7 in his only season as coach before leaving to take the Head Coaching job at the University of Virginia.

Herman Edwards - 2001-2005. The Jets hired Herman Edwards a defensive coach with the Tamp Bay Buccaneers to be their Head Coach in 2001. He would become the first African American Head Coach in franchise history. Edwards would coach the Jets for five seasons leading them to the playoffs three times. He would go 39 and 41 as Jets Head Coach.

Eric Mangini - 2006-2008. At just 35 years of age Eric Mangini would become the youngest coach in franchise history. He had previously worked as an assistant coach with the New England Patriots. In his first season with the Jets he led the Jets to a 9 and 7 record and a birth in the postseason. The Jets would slip to 4 and 12 in 2007. In 2008 the Jets got off to an 8 and 3 record but stumbled down the stretch and finished with a 9 and 7 record. Mangini was fired after the 2008 season with a 23 and 25 record as Jets Head Coach.