New York Jets’ offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer ends stay with team– NFL News Update
New York Jets’ offensive coordinator, Brian Schottenheimer, has decided not to return to the team next season after having served with the Jets for the past six years.
The 38-year-old coordinator had been receiving a lot of criticism as the Jets performance slumped in recent games.
Intensity in criticism increased to a great extent after the Jets lost to the New York Giants 29-14 in a game that had been hyped up a lot due to coach, Rex Ryan’s claims.
The Jets’ offense averaging just 307.7 yards per game under Schottenheimer had ended up ranking 25th overall in the National Football League (NFL). Many angry fans had called for him to be fired and such sentiments were expressed in newspapers
and on the internet.
However, Ryan had come to his rescue saying that he had “huge amounts of confidence” in his coordinator, who saved the day for Schottenheimer, but then the Jets saw their team eliminated from the playoff race, adding to the anger of the supporters.
Hence, when Schottenheimer decided he was not coming back, the angry fans were delighted.
Schottenheimer said that he made the decision after much thought and “consideration”.
He said that he was proud of his six-year long stay with the Jets during which he had accomplished a lot.
He said goodbye along with thanking Rex Ryan and the Jets organisation.
Schottenheimer was driven by the need to find a better prospect for himself in the future. Something which he probably could not hope to achieve with the Jets after all the criticism rained on him.
“I look forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead," he said.
Ryan, who had voted in favour of the coordinator in desperate times, hoped that Schottenheimer would turn out to be a successful head coach one day.
"Brian and I talked, and I understand his decision to look for a fresh start. I would like to thank him for all of his contributions these past three seasons. He's been right there with me, shoulder to shoulder, and played a key role in our success, helping
us to reach two AFC championship games," Ryan said.
However, all said by Ryan, the future of Schottenheimer with the Jets was under great strain.
Even though he had the vote of confidence from Ryan and general manager, Mike Tannenbaum, yet the anger demonstrated by the fans had to be assuaged and Schottenheimer probably made the decision not to return in that context.
Schottenheimer had earlier interviewed for the head coach slot with the Jacksonville Jaguars but that position has now been handed over to Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator, Mike Mularkey.
According to news surfacing from the NFL network, the Jets intend to hire former Miami Dolphins' coach, Tony Sparano, in place of Schottenheimer.
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