http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2009/01/jets_secretly_speak_with_harba.html Thompson/Associated PressJim Harbaugh is a former NFL quarterback. Add another name to the Jets' head coaching search. The club secretly interviewed Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh, an NFL quarterback for 15 seasons, according to someone with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak for the club. On Thursday, when a Jets contingent flew to Arizona to interview Cardinals assistant head coach/offensive line coach Russ Grimm, it continued on to the Bay Area to visit with Harbaugh. Sunday, Jets owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum will fly to Baltimore to interview Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, whose defense has been outstanding in the postseason. Last week, there were reports that the Jets, as well as several other NFL teams, were interested in Harbaugh but he was negotiating an extension with the school. Harbaugh, 45, has spent the past two seasons at Stanford, posting a 9-15 record. Prior to that, he was head coach at the University of San Diego, going 29-6 in three seasons. He also spent two seasons as an offensive assistant with the Oakland Raiders. His brother is Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. Jim Harbaugh, who played with the Bears, Colts, Ravens, Chargers and Panthers, was the seventh candidate interviewed by the Jets since the firing of Eric Mangini on Dec. 29. Ryan will be the eighth. Thus far, the Jets have interviewed in-house candidates Brian Schottenheimer and Bill Callahan, Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, former Boston College head coach Jeff Jagodzinski, Grimm and Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks.
Rex was still the right guy for this team at that time. He brought an identity to the organization and was able to propel us to 2 straight AFC title games. Things change, personnel changes, and personnel philosophy changes year to year based on who is drafted and who is let go, retired, and signed. The time has come for this team and organization to build. To do that we need a coaching staff that can develop talent and get the most out of the current talent. This all needs to be done to fit the system the new regim has. The Rex era has come to an end...
If Harbaugh did with the Jets yesterday what he did with the Niners there would be "FIRE HARBAUGH" posts all over this board. They dont have the same defense in San Fran , Kaepernick isnt playing as well as he did and Gore and Vernon Davis arent the same players...and they are 4-4. Why people think this dude is the second coming of Lombardi is beyond me.
Very true that Harbaugh took over an EXTREMELY talented team. Definitely underachieveing this year so I get why his stock has dropped.
Most teams decline after a few years as their window closes due to cap concerns and the decline of established talent. When you don't have a lot of young talent at the start of the run the decline looks like the one the Jets have experienced over the last 3 years. Rex's problem is that the Jets had a veteran talent base when he arrived and most of the vets aged out. You can't go on the kind of draft run the Jets had from 2008 to 2010 and not have that bottom out the team a few years later. That's just what happens.
Yup You can't strike out in the first round 3 years in a row especially when 2 of those picks are in the top 6 and expect that not to come back and haunt you.
I could just as easily see Harbaugh becoming available, but Idzick taking a pass him and his headstrong ways and hire Quinn...
