Jets fire Gregg Williams after call on defense costs 1st win
NEW YORK — Adam Gase thought through the final agonizing moments of the New York Jets’ stunning loss and tried to not make a rash decision.
The coach got a little bit of sleep before he headed to the team’s facility Monday morning — with the same conclusion he had Sunday night: defensive coordinator Gregg Williams had to go.
“I just felt like that was the best thing for our team moving forward,” Gase said during a conference call. “Organizationally, we had a discussion this morning and we felt like this was the best move to make.”
Williams was fired after he inexplicably called for an all-out blitz against Las Vegas on Sunday with the Jets seconds away from their first victory. Derek Carr heaved a perfectly placed 46-yard touchdown pass to Henry Ruggs III — who was in man-to-man, or Cover Zero, coverage with rookie cornerback Lamar Jackson — with 5 seconds left to lift the Raiders to a 31-28 win.
The decision was highly criticized by fans, media and even his own players. It left the Jets players, who only moments earlier were celebrating what appeared to be a win, in shock on the sideline.
The team announced it had “parted ways” with Williams and assistant head coach/inside linebackers coach Frank Bush would serve as the interim defensive coordinator.
“I obviously wasn’t happy about that call,” a somber-sounding Gase said. “That was a heartbreaking way for our guys to lose a game. For that to happen in that situation, it’s just … we can’t have that happen.”
Gase said he spoke with CEO Christopher Johnson, general manager Joe Douglas and team president Hymie Elhai about what he thought should be done — and they agreed it was right to move on. Gase then told Williams about the decision during a nearly hour-long discussion.
“Obviously, he wasn’t happy,” Gase said. “But, that’s our profession.”
Team captain Marcus Maye took an uncharacteristic swipe at Williams after the game, saying that the defense should have been in a better call in that situation. Gase insisted Maye’s comments didn’t play a role in his decision.
Gase was surprised to hear the play call by Williams, and acknowledged he has authority to overrule the defensive coordinator — but did not.
“I wish I would’ve,” Gase said. “Sometimes during a game, you’re talking through a bunch of situations and that comes up. I wish I would’ve called timeout, but I didn’t.”
