USAT: Jets Wire audio clip

USAT: Jets Wire

Feb 8, 2022

Jets TE coach Ron Middleton has only served two brief stints as a head coach, but he can add a prominent reference to his resume after leading the National Team at the Senior Bowl. - Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy was more than impressed with Middleton and Lions assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley last week. The two were elevated to the role of head coach while the New York and Detroit staffs coached the Senior Bowl. - Nagy, an NFL scout for 18 years, tweeted that Middleton and Staley “were great communicators, problem-solvers, and leaders” in Mobile. He added that any team with a head-coaching vacancy next cycle would be wise to interview the duo. - - Everyone at @seniorbowl is truly appreciative of work put in by Lions’ Duce Staley and Jets’ Ron Middleton & their staffs. Both men were great communicators, problem-solvers, and leaders this week in Mobile. Any NFL club with HC vacancy next year would be smart to interview them. pic.twitter.com/JzKjVOlYMB - — Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) February 6, 2022 - - - This year was the first time that actual head coaches, such as Robert Saleh, worked in advisory roles at the Senior Bowl. In addition to Middleton being the head coach, Jets LB coach Mike Rutenberg was elevated to defensive coordinator, while QB coach Rob Calabrese was the offensive coordinator. - “I want to start by thanking Jim Nagy and the Senior Bowl for the change this year allowing an assistant to work as the head coach down in Mobile,” Middleton said in a statement prior to the Senior Bowl. “I also can’t say enough about Robert Saleh for the opportunity to serve as an acting head coach during the season and certainly for this chance now. Our staff is full of deserving candidates, and I am proud to experience this week alongside them. Working with this group of extremely talented young men as they begin their professional careers is something we are all grateful to be a part of and our staff is excited to work with them for the week.” - In addition to the Senior Bowl, Middleton also acted as the Jets’ interim head coach this past season after Saleh tested positive for COVID-19. Middleton was in charge for New York’s Week 16 win over Jacksonville. - A former tight end, Middleton’s NFL coaching career began in 2004. He has coaching experience with the Bucs and Jaguars, as well as Troy, Ole Miss, Alabama and Duke. - - List - - 6 things to know about Jets interim head coach Ron Middleton - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Jets Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Jets Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

F i l t e r   &   S o r t