The New York Jets organization continues to make moves following the ugly finish to the 2012 NFL season.
The latest move was firing offensive coordinator Tony Sparano after only one season in New York according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen via Twitter:
The Jets have fired offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, as expected, per league sources.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) January 8, 2013
Sparano’s firing was expected with the offensive side of the football being the team’s biggest deficiency this season. The Jets had the tools to be successful offensively this season with the addition of Tim Tebow and already possessing savvy veterans, but an injury to the team’s best option in wide receiver Santonio Holmes and inconsistencies on offense doomed this team almost from the beginning.
Now the Jets organization will focus on hiring a new GM. Former GM Mike Tannebaum being fired recently and was the first of the drastic move made by the Jets as the search continues to find his replacement in the front office.
The one move that the team was thought to make almost immediately following the 6-10 season was firing head coach Rex Ryan. As the most criticized person in the Jets organization, outside of quarterback Mark Sanchez, it appeared to be only a matter of time before Ryan would be sent packing.
Fortunately for Ryan, that turned out not to be the case with Tannebaum taking the brunt of the blame for the team’s recent struggles.
As if retaining Ryan wasn’t surprising enough, owner Woody Johnson has let it be known that the new GM must keep Ryan as the head coach for at least the 2013 season. Johnson still has faith in Ryan and for good reason considering Ryan’s success since taking the job back in 2009.
Although Ryan will still be the head coach moving forward, that will almost certainly change if the struggles continues early next season.
