Many members of the Jets’ coaching staff and front office will remain in place after a highly underwhelming performance in 2023. Some changes are being made, however, including the departure of one coach on Robert Saleh‘s original staff. 
Running backs coach Taylor Embree will not be back next season, Connor Hughes of SNY reports. Embree has experience at both the college and NFL levels, and he was brought in by Saleh in 2021 after the pair worked together in San Francisco. As Hughes notes, Saleh considered Embree an “untouchable” member of the staff upon offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett‘s arrival last offseason, but he is now headed elsewhere.
Before the news of Embree’s departure, it was reported the Jets were one of the teams looking into former Panthers RBs coach Duce Staley (along with the Browns). Saleh met with Staley last Thursday, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reports. The Jets are expected to make an offer to the 48-year-old, who was let go midseason as part of Frank Reich‘s firing. Staley had held the title of assistant head coach during his brief Carolina tenure.
The same was true for Staley during his time with the Eagles and Lions which preceded his arrival with the Panthers. He is likely to receive continued interest from the Browns in the event New York does not reach an agreement with him. Failing that, a number of teams looking to make additions could also look into him. The Jets are eyeing another staffer for the RBs coach posting, however.
Tony Dews is interviewing with the Jets, ESPN’s Turron Davenport reports (via colleague Rich Cimini). Dews had a lengthy coaching career at the college level before taking his first NFL opportunity with Tennessee in 2018. He served as the Titans’ running backs coach for five seasons before working with tight ends in 2023. He would represent an experienced option for New York as the team seeks to tweak its staff ahead of a 2024 campaign in which signficant improvement on offense will be needed.
Of course, lead back Breece Hall will be a major factor in that effort. Recovering in full from last year’s ACL tear, the 2022 second-rounder totaled 1,585 scrimmage yards in 2023 despite the Jets being saddled with several offensive line injuries and poor quarterback play. The team’s hire at the RBs coach spot will thus be an important one as the team considers at least a few different options.
Actually, the RBs’ coach shouldn’t have been the biggest problem. The OL coach is not well liked and the OL was a mess last year but they’re apparently keeping him.
Another lost season for the Jets. Except the wheels may not fall off until week 2 or 3 in 2024 as their recently rehabbed 40-year-old QB goes down yet again following a complete OL failure.
And yet Nathaniel Hackett stays employed
I’m pretty convinced that every great RB I’ve seen, be it Jim Brown, Walter Payton or Barry Sanders had an instinctive, intuitive ability that simply cannot be taught. If you’re a RB who actually requires a “coach” you probably aren’t on a journey that will end in Canton.
The number one thing that keeps young running backs off the field is learning how to handle pass protection assignments at the pro level, so there’s one reason even good ones require coaches.
firing a coach for the sake of saying you made “change” is ridiculous. OLine coach should have been handed his walking papers before the season even ended. I guess it won’t matter b/c if Jets don’t make the playoffs the entire regime will be unemployed.