NFL Insider Jason La Canfora: Mike Tomlin & Lamar Jackson to the Jets?

Mike Tomlin isn’t even on a sideline right now, but NFL front offices are already treating him like the most sought-after coaching free agent in league history. If he wants to coach again, owners will be chasing him with open checkbooks—and they might have to outbid the New York Jets.

Are the Jets Going All-In on Tomlin?

Numerous well-placed league sources close to NFL ownership groups—including teams whose current coaches are under fire—state that preliminary groundwork for a potential pursuit of NBC’s Mike Tomlin is already underway in East Rutherford.

“Woody is starting to ask a lot of questions; he’s doing his homework on Tomlin,” said one executive who knows Jets owner Woody Johnson well. “This one has legs. I’m telling you. Mike is in New York at Rockefeller Center for NBC, Woody is back in charge at the facility, and he knows how steep the competition will be. You are going to hear a lot about the Jets.”

Over the years, Johnson has largely hired first-time head coaches, but that philosophy could be shifting.

Johnson may look to replicate the move made by his cross-stadium rivals, the Giants, who landed proven Super Bowl winner John Harbaugh after his departure from Baltimore.

Tomlin boasts an almost identical resume and, prior to leaving Pittsburgh, was the only NFL head coach with a longer tenure at a single franchise than Harbaugh. Landing Tomlin would represent far more than a standard hire—it would serve as a major statement of intent.

Sources close to Johnson note that securing Tomlin would be viewed internally as a massive victory, particularly given his proven ability to navigate high-pressure media markets. However, with multiple vacancies expected, Tomlin would command a top-of-market contract alongside significant authority over football operations.

Executives across the league already view a shift in New York as inevitable:

“Glenn is a dead man walking, and he knows it,” one general manager noted. “I hear the same thing about Woody wanting Tomlin. It makes complete sense—money won’t be an object.”

Could Tomlin’s Arrival Bring Lamar Jackson to New York?

A potential Tomlin hire could immediately trigger secondary moves across the league, with conversations pointing toward a pursuit of two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Jackson enters a high-stakes stretch with his long-term future in Baltimore unresolved amidst ongoing contract negotiations. Representing himself, Jackson’s current deal carries an $84.5 million cap hit for 2027, alongside standard no-trade and no-tag clauses.

Multiple league executives believe Jackson could explore potential trade avenues following previous extension standoffs.

If Tomlin takes the reins in New York, where the Jets boast premium draft capital—including three first-round selections—there is a belief Jackson would strongly evaluate the destination. The pair share a deep mutual respect built over years of AFC North battles, and New York’s defensive core provides an immediate foundation for a contender.

Combined with Johnson’s history of pursuing marquee names and Tomlin’s preference for veteran quarterbacks, the alignment is clear.

Transforming the Franchise

Pairing a Super Bowl-winning coach with a prime-era MVP quarterback in the nation’s largest media market would immediately reframe the franchise.

For an organization working to shift its national perception, a Tomlin-Jackson pairing would make the Jets mandatory prime-time viewing.