With Mike McCarthy expected to interview for the Jets head coaching job, his former quarterback has is offering his support.
Brett Farve was on SiriusXM NFL Radio Wednesday and said that McCarthy would be a ”great choice” for the Jets, as well as the Browns, because of promising young quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield.
Farve played under McCarthy twice in his long career, as McCarthy was the Packers quarterbacks coach in 1999 and the head coach in 2006. In total, the two spent three seasons together. While Farve wasn’t a young gunslinger when he was with McCarthy, he understands the relationship needed between a head coach and quarterback.
“I think what’s important with a coach and a quarterback is understanding their strengths and their weaknesses, and where they are in their developmental stage — and how you call plays and how much you place upon that [quarterback],” Favre said. “Too many times, I think coaches place too much on a young quarterback.”
Farve, who also played for the Jets before his storied career wrapped up, isn’t wrong about that. The Jets, for example, were ultra-conservative with Darnold this season, at times stunting his growth. Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates had the training wheels on Darnold for the majority of the season, waiting until the stretch run to open up the playbook.
“As you see them grow, you maybe [think], ‘OK, can you handle the protection [adjustment] part of it?’ You kind of do that slowly. I think Mike does a really good job of that,” Favre said. “I think also Mike is a very good coach in regard to discipline and toughness. He’s going to ingrain toughness into his players.”
At the end of the day, the decision is in the hands of Mike Maccagnan and Christopher Johnson, but they should consider Farve’s opinion. Just look at all the success quarterbacks have had under McCarthy, the Hall of Famer included.
