The Jets don’t know who their starting quarterback will be in 2026. But they do know who their quarterbacks coach will be: Bill Musgrave.
The Jets are hiring Musgrave for the quarterbacks coach position, the team announced. Thomas Merkle will be the assistant quarterbacks coach, Al Netter will be the assistant offensive line coach and Matthew Sargent will be an offensive assistant.
The 58-year-old Musgrave was the Browns’ quarterbacks coach last year and has had several stints as an NFL quarterbacks coach or offensive coordinator.
The Jets signed quarterback Justin Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract a year ago, but he did not pan out, and it’s hard to imagine he’ll be the starter this year. They also have Brady Cook, Tyrod Taylor and Hendon Hooker on the team, and they’ll surely bring in at least one quarterback via the draft, free agency or a trade.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is a Super Bowl champion.
That seemed like an unlikely destination for Darnold when he was traded by the Jets three years after being selected with the third overall pick and it didn’t feel any likelier when he bounced from the Panthers to the 49ers before the end of his sixth season. Darnold got back on track with the Vikings last year and rose even higher in leading the Seahawks to the top of the NFC during the regular season.
Darnold wasn’t able to replicate his big day from the NFC Championship in Super Bowl LX, but he avoided mistakes during the 29-13 win over the Patriots and touched on his unusual career path while speaking to Melissa Stark of NBC after the game.
“It’s unbelievable,” Darnold said. “Everything that’s happened in my career, but to do it with this team — I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m so proud of our guys. I can’t say enough great things about our defense and special teams.”
Darnold said in the days leading up to the Super Bowl that he wasn’t interested in personal vindication, but his history was on his mind on Sunday and his persistence showed when Stark asked what message others can draw from his story.
“As long as you believe in yourself, anything is possible,” Darnold said.
Darnold may have cribbed that line from Kevin Garnett, but his story does a spectacular job of making that point.
The Jets are hiring Seth Ryan as their passing game coordinator, Rich Cimini of ESPN reports.
Ryan, 31, is the third generation in the Ryan family to coach for the Jets. His father, Rex, was the Jets’ head coach from 2009-14, and his grandfather, Buddy, was the Jets’ defensive line coach from 1968-75, which included the Super Bowl III championship team.
Seth Ryan follows Aaron Glenn from Detroit.
Ryan was with the Lions for five seasons. He was the assistant wide receivers coach for four seasons before becoming the assistant tight ends coach under Tyler Roehl in 2025.
The Lions passed over Ryan when Roehl left the team, instead promoting assistant offensive line coach Steve Oliver to tight ends coach.
The Jets are continuing the overhaul of Aaron Glenn’s staff by adding a new tight ends coach.
Omar Ruiz of NFL Media reports that they are hiring Alfredo Roberts to fill that position. Jeff Blasko had that job last season, but is expected to join the Browns’ coaching staff for the 2026 season.
Roberts played tight end for the Chiefs and Cowboys from 1988-1993 and has been coaching in the NFL since 2023. He spent the last five seasons on the Steelers’ staff and has also been a position coach for the Chargers, Colts, Buccaneers, Browns, and Jaguars.
Roberts is the second former Steelers assistant to join the Jets in recent days. They have also hired defensive line coach Karl Dunbar.
Darron Lee, a first-round pick of the Jets in 2016, has been charged with murdering his girlfriend.
Via Fox 17 in Nashville, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office took Lee into custody on Thursday, after deputies were dispatched to a residence at which first responders were performing CPR on a female. Per the HCSO, she died as a result of her injuries.
The HCSO Criminal Investigative Services Detectives made a preliminary finding that the victim’s death was resulted from a homicide. Lee was identified as a suspect.
Lee has been charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. Via TMZ.com, Lee is being held without bond.
The former Ohio State linebacker was the 20th overall pick in the 2016 draft. He spent three years with the Jets, one with the Chiefs, and one with the Bills. Lee appeared in 58 career regular-season games, with 38 starts, and he was a member of the Super Bowl LIV championship team in Kansas City.
