The New York Jets shocked the football world when it was announced Tuesday morning that they had fired head coach Robert Saleh.

This move was definitely justified as the team did not live up to expectations during his tenure. The inability to figure out the quarterback position ultimately did him in, as the team is 2-3 this season despite Aaron Rodgers.

With Saleh gone, the team named defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbirch as interim coach. Unless he exceeds expectations, a full search will be conducted after the season ends.

Who could the Jets turn to as their next head coach? Some people will demand that Bill Belichick step onto the sideline as the biggest head coach name available as a poetic conclusion to his career.

Owner Woody Johnson certainly enjoys making headlines, but it’s hard to imagine Belichick joining the franchise. Instead, here are three non-Belichick head coaching candidates for New York to consider.

One of the hottest names in the coaching world in recent years is Johnson. He did an incredible job with the Lions, helping turn the once-troubled franchise into a perennial NFC contender.

He deserves credit for helping get Jared Goff back on track and developing some incredible young players. Detroit is brimming with talent as Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williamson, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery have all benefited from Johnson’s play and scheme.

Don’t forget that he also oversaw one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. This has been a weakness for the Jets in recent years.

It’s unclear if Flores will ever get another chance as a head coach after what happened with the Miami Dolphins. But his CV speaks for itself.

Despite the turmoil, he was 10-6 and 9-8 in his final two seasons. He was outstanding in Minnesota the last two years.

If New York is looking for someone with head coaching experience, he is a good option. He also knows what it takes to compete in the AFC East.

Argubaly’s most successful head coaching candidate outside of Belichick is Vrabel. He was with the Titans for six seasons and had a ton of early success.

In his first four seasons, the team finished above .500 in every season and made three playoff appearances. The 2019 season included an appearance in the AFC Championship Game and in 2021 they were the No. 1 seed.

As a hard-nosed, defensive-minded coach from the Belichick family, he should be a popular candidate this offseason.

After the disaster that was Adam Gase’s tenure as head coach, it’s easy to understand why Jets fans might be a little hesitant to hire an offensive-minded coach. But considering how strong the defense is, this is the direction the franchise should go.

Slowik has done a remarkable job in Houston since joining from the San Francisco 49ers under head coach DeMeco Ryans. The work he has done with CJ Stroud is amazing and gives him the confidence to develop quarterbacks and get the best out of unknown players.

How many football fans knew who Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Devin Singletary would lead into the 2023 season? All three played exceptionally well under Slowik and since he comes from the Kyle Shanahan stock, you know he can coach an offense.