The first changes to the Jets coaching staff for 2012 came to light Tuesday.
According to sources, offensive line coach Bill Callahan, wide receivers coach Henry Ellard and outside linebackers coach Jeff Weeks won’t be back next season.
The biggest loss of the three is Callahan, who is leaving to become the offensive line coach of the Cowboys. Callahan, a former head coach with the Raiders and Nebraska, has been with the Jets since 2008. He was one of the few holdovers from Eric Mangini’s staff when Rex Ryan took over. Callahan’s contract with the Jets had expired, but the team wanted him back.
The Jets denied Callahan the chance to interview with the Titans last year for their offensive coordinator job, something that upset Callahan greatly. The Jets offered him a contract extension on a few different occasions, but he turned them down.
Ellard and Weeks both joined the Jets in 2009 when Rex Ryan was hired as head coach. Both of their contracts expired and they were not asked to return.
Ellard, who played in the NFL from 1983-98, may be the fall guy for the failure or wide receivers Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress this season. Holmes had 51 catches for 654 yards and eight touchdowns. He was a problem in the locker room, and got into fights with several of his teammates in the Jets’ finale in Miami. Burress had 45 catches for 612 yards and eight touchdowns in his first season with the Jets.
It is not known who will replace Ellard yet. Mike Smith, who was a coaching intern the last two years, will become outside linebackers coach. The Jets coaches credit Smith with helping Aaron Maybin turn his career around this season.