While McCown played 18 seasons in the NFL for 10 different teams, he’s only been a coach for two years. He was hired as Quarterbacks coach for the Carolina Panthers under Frank Reich in 2023 and was tasked with developing their number one overall pick, quarterback Bryce Young.

The Jets have interviewed McCown for their vacant head coach position. He’s currently the QB coach with the Minnesota Vikings. Brian Flores, the defensive coordinator for the Vikings, has also spoke to New York in their long list of candidates.

The jump from position coach to head coach is unusual but not unprecedented. A great example of it working is Andy Reid, who went from Packers quarterbacks coach to Eagles head coach in 1999. Reid has won 273 regular season games, the fourth most in NFL history, and has won three Super Bowls with the Chiefs.