Gregg

Williams

The team had no choice but to part ways with Williams after one of the most egregious defensive play calls in league history. The Jets, up by four points with seconds to play, sent seven pass rushers, leaving New York defensive backs in man coverage against Vegas receivers. Henry Ruggs III came down with a 46-yard touchdown to win the game. Williams’ play call was baffling in every way, and has drawn the ire of NFL analysts unlike any call in memory. Accusations of the Jets tanking for Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence can be quickly dismissed with the firing of Williams.

At least on paper, Greg Manusky is still Jay Gruden’s defensive boss, but the Redskins apparently had their eyes on an upgrade. A former Redskins assistant who was passed over for the head job in Washington multiple times, Williams likely did not have much interest in heading back to the nation’s capital.

Williams was somewhat of a laughingstock as Browns defensive coordinator in 2017, but he did a better job in 2018 as he served as interim head coach. Devoted to aggression and deep safety drops, Williams has coached just about everywhere and overseen some strong defenses, most famously the Super Bowl winning Saints in 2009. He has some interesting pieces to work with in New York, but he’s inheriting a unit that was nothing special in 2018. He figures to butt heads with coach Adam Gase.

Williams is believed to be weighing the seven head-coaching job offers he received via snail mail over the past two weeks.

The Browns sent Williams packing earlier this week, though obviously it didn’t take him long to resurface. The Jets had also considered Vance Joseph (who was just hired by Arizona) and Chuck Pagano for their defensive coordinator opening. Williams can rub people the wrong way with his colorful personality, though we have to admit, the 60-year-old did a phenomenal job in his short stint as Cleveland’s interim head coach, going 5-3 after Hue Jackson’s midseason firing. He’ll captain the defense in East Rutherford with new coach Adam Gase taking on the bulk of New York’s offensive responsibilities.

To hear Williams tell it, he has already received six job offers and a marriage proposal from the Princess of Luxembourg, but this interest actually seems legitimate. MMQB’s Albert Breer reports ex-Broncos coach Vance Joseph and ex-Colts coach Chuck Pagano are also in the running.

Not many want to admit it, but Williams did a pretty good job with the Browns. Cleveland was No. 2 in the league in turnovers created and No. 7 in pass-defense DVOA. He also helped right the ship after Hue Jackson was fired following Week 8, as Williams was given interim coaching duties and teamed up with OC Freddie Kitchens to guide the Browns to a 5-3 finish to the season. But the Browns ended up hiring Kitchens as head coach on Wednesday and really couldn’t flip Williams back under Kitchens. Kitchens will have the right to build his own staff.

OC Freddie Kitchens will also get an interview. Williams is not considered to be a strong candidate for the job, and Dorsey made it clear on Monday he plans to conduct a wide-ranging search. Even so, Williams has to at least be in the running after turning Cleveland’s season around.

This isn’t a surprise — Williams was never more than a placeholder. The Browns have had a second half turnaround under OC Freddie Kitchens, but there’s no mandate to keep Kitchens or Williams under the new coaching staff. Williams won’t struggle to resurface in another defensive coordinator role this offseason.

Official word should come momentarily. The “Bountygate” architect would seem uniquely ill-suited to lead a team in 2018, especially one trying to break in a No. 1 overall pick at quarterback.