How many interviews for head coach and general manager positions are too many?

That’s the question raised by Dianna Russini of The Athletic and former quarterback Chase Daniel on Friday.

When it comes to the New York Jets’ search, the term “ridiculous” is being used frequently.

Jets owner Woody Johnson was seen on the field at Levi’s Stadium before their game against the San Francisco 49ers on September 9, 2024.

According to Russini, the nearly 30-person list of candidates has caught many in the league off guard. “The number of candidates these teams are considering is ridiculous,” she said. “People around the league are telling me the same thing—it’s just ridiculous.”

The Jets enlisted the independent consulting firm, The 33rd Team, to assist in identifying candidates for the head coach and general manager roles following the midseason dismissals of Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas. Notable names like Mike Vrabel, Thomas Dimitroff, Mike Greenberg, and Joe Brady have been linked to the search.

While Russini finds the extensive list excessive, others see it differently. After 14 years without a playoff appearance, the Jets’ previous approaches clearly haven’t worked. Instead of narrowing the search to five or six candidates, as Daniel suggested, the team’s broader search allows them to analyze past failures and identify the best long-term option.

In this context, conducting over 30 interviews isn’t “ridiculous”—it’s a sign that the Jets are determined to get this decision right and avoid repeating the same process in the near future.