Jets' decision to pass on Josh Allen haunts them in 2024
- The New York Jets interviewed coaching candidates, including Sean McDermott, in January 2015 but chose to hire Todd Bowles instead.
- In March 2018, the Jets chose to draft Sam Darnold over Josh Allen after attending his pro day.
- The Jets are currently searching for their fourth head coach and have seen poor results from recent quarterback selections.
In January 2015, the New York Jets conducted an extensive search for a new head coach and had a meeting scheduled with Sean McDermott, who was then the defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers. However, they canceled this interview at the last minute to hire Todd Bowles. Three years later, the Jets' decision-making would come back to haunt them when they attended Josh Allen's pro day in March 2018. Despite being present to evaluate him, they opted to draft Sam Darnold as their franchise quarterback instead of taking Allen. Josh Allen has since transformed into an MVP candidate and has led the Buffalo Bills to significant success, including their fifth consecutive AFC East title. Meanwhile, the New York Jets have struggled to find stability at the quarterback position. This instability has led the team through multiple coaching regimes and unsuccessful quarterback selections over several seasons. As of late 2024, the Jets are seeking their fourth head coach since making the decision to hire Bowles and passing on McDermott and Allen. In the aftermath of these events, the Jets have cycled through a series of quarterbacks, including Darnold, Zach Wilson, and Aaron Rodgers, all of whom have not delivered the level of performance expected from a franchise quarterback. The Jets’ repeated failure to secure a consistent and successful quarterback reflects the consequences of their previous decisions and raises questions about the effectiveness of their front office and coaching staff decisions. With the Jets now looking to draft another quarterback in 2025, the impact of their earlier choices continues to reverberate. The contrast between the success of the Bills and the struggles of the Jets highlights how critical decision-making in NFL front offices can lead to vastly different paths for franchises. As the Bills celebrate their recent achievements, the Jets find themselves at a crossroads, needing to redefine their approach if they hope to emerge from the shadow of their past mistakes.