Mike McCarthy will interview for Jets’ head coaching job, per report

If former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy does indeed choose to coach in 2019, he could end up going from the NFL’s smallest market to its largest. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, McCarthy will have an interview with the New York Jets, who fired Todd Bowles on Sunday following the conclusion of the 2018 season.

The Jets went 4-12 this season, their third straight year of double-digit losses under Bowles after a 10-6 record in his first year in 2015. The Packers fired McCarthy after their week 13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, installing Joe Philbin as interim head coach. The two teams played in week 16 after McCarthy was relieved of his duties, with the Packers winning 44-38 in overtime.

Like the Cleveland Browns, an oft-rumored destination for McCarthy, the Jets drafted a young, talented quarterback early in 2018, selecting Sam Darnold third overall. Darnold had a fairly typical season for a rookie starting quarterback, completing about 58% of his passes for 2,865 yards, 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. However, after being injured in a four-pick game at Miami in November, Darnold returned in week 14 and went 80-125 (64%) for 931 yards, six touchdowns and one interception in the final four games.

McCarthy has reportedly turned down an opportunity to interview for the Arizona Cardinals’ head coaching job, which may have come with full roster control. However, according to Cimini, he would not be in charge of personnel in New York.

Although McCarthy has reportedly received overtures from the Browns, who employ several of his former Packers colleagues in their front office, it is not yet known if he has agreed to interview for that franchise’s open position.