Adam Gase will be looking for a job next week after the Jets fire him, which is almost certain. There was some news in Boston that the Patriots could consider him their new coach. Jedd Fisch has just left that role to head coach at the University of Arizona.
It would make sense to see Gase landing in New England. He and Josh McDaniels return in 1999, when they were both low-level assistants on Nick Saban’s Michigan staff. Gase worked under McDaniels in Denver as a wide-ranging coach when McDaniels was head coach. Patriots coach Bill Belichick is always very complementary to Gase, as he was again on Tuesday during a conference with Jets reporters.
“I think Adam has done an excellent job this year, continuing to improve the team with coaches,” Belichick said. “As usual, his excellent game plan and the game are problems for the defense. This is a team that has become better. “
The biggest question as to whether the Patriots would like Gase is whether Gase would be able to swallow his pride in working under McDaniels. Gase has been the head coach for five seasons. His Jets contract ends for another two years, so he will make money. It would certainly be a blow to his ego to return to the position of position coach, especially under someone he worked for 10 years ago.
Gase may not have many other options, but it is still unlikely that Jets fans will see him on the bottom line of New England next year.