Adam Gase Resurfaces: Former Jets Coach Linked to Chargers Job Amid Super Bowl Weekend Buzz
Just when Jets fans thought they’d finally put the Adam Gase era behind them, his name has re-entered the NFL conversation-and not as a punchline this time. According to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, Gase is being considered for a role on Jim Harbaugh’s staff with the Los Angeles Chargers, potentially as an offensive assistant.
Yes, that Adam Gase.
The same coach who led the Jets to a 9-23 record over two seasons, including a 2-14 collapse in 2020 that felt like rock bottom for a franchise that’s seen its fair share of lows. Since then, Gase has been largely off the NFL radar, surfacing only occasionally in consulting roles or brief appearances. But now, with Harbaugh assembling a new staff in L.A., Gase is reportedly in the mix again.
For Jets fans, the timing couldn’t be more bizarre. It’s Super Bowl weekend, and while New York is nowhere near the big game, its past continues to find the spotlight. And in this case, it’s a past many would prefer to forget.
Gase’s time in New York was rocky from the jump. His 2019 introductory press conference-remember the bug-eyed stare that instantly went viral?-set the tone for a tenure that never quite found its footing. What followed were two seasons of dysfunction, frustration, and a team that often looked lost on both sides of the ball.
There were moments that seemed to define that era in all the wrong ways. One in particular: Gase reportedly skipped Thanksgiving dinner with his family to prep for a matchup against the winless Bengals in 2019.
The Jets lost that game 22-6. It was emblematic of the misplaced priorities and the lack of results that came to characterize his time in New York.
But perhaps the most lasting damage was done to Sam Darnold’s development. Drafted to be the franchise quarterback, Darnold showed flashes of promise early on-but under Gase, his growth stalled.
The offense lacked identity, the protection was shaky, and the play-calling often left more questions than answers. By the end of 2020, both Gase and Darnold were out, and the Jets were once again hitting the reset button.
Now, in a twist that feels almost scripted, Darnold is preparing to start in the Super Bowl as the quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks. Meanwhile, Gase-after five years in the shadows-might be on the verge of stepping back onto an NFL sideline.
It’s the kind of full-circle moment that only the NFL can deliver. For Jets fans, it’s a reminder of a chapter they’d rather close for good.
For Chargers fans, it raises eyebrows as Harbaugh begins shaping his new-look staff. And for Gase, it could be a shot at redemption after a coaching stint that left a lasting mark-for better or worse.
Whether or not Gase ultimately lands in Los Angeles, the fact that his name is even back in the mix speaks volumes about how unpredictable this league can be. And somehow, even during a Super Bowl week that has nothing to do with them, the Jets still manage to find their way into the headlines.